Turkish Airlines to resume Cuba flights via new Moscow-Istanbul route

Turkish Airlines has announced it will resume flights to Cuba starting October 25, 2026. The airline will implement a new route connecting Moscow to Havana via a technical stop in Istanbul, departing from Vnukovo Airport.

This decision follows a temporary suspension of operations in March 2026, which the airline attributed to a fuel crisis and declining demand. The new route simplifies travel by eliminating the previous requirement for passengers to transfer planes in Panama.

The resumption highlights the importance of the Russian market to the airline’s Caribbean strategy, as the route is already being promoted by Russian travel agencies. This move comes during a period of significant decline for the Cuban tourism sector, which saw a 60.7% reduction in visitor arrivals during the first half of the year.