Airline codes
CU · CUB
IATA · ICAO · callsign “CUBANA”
Look for CU in front of the number on your ticket: that prefix marks a flight sold under the Cubana code. Enter CU and the number to follow a Cubana departure.
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Cubana de Aviación (CU) Guide
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Airline
Where Cubana flies from Havana, which aircraft it uses, what its cabins and bag allowances look like, and how to check in for a CU flight. Ask a question
In short
Cubana de Aviación is the flag carrier of Cuba, based at José Martí International in Havana. As of 2025 its scheduled network was very limited: two domestic routes plus Caracas and Madrid. Travellers should check carefully that a flight is running before planning around it. Cubana is not in an alliance and has no loyalty scheme listed.
Cubana de Aviación is the flag carrier and largest airline of Cuba, founded in 1929 and based at José Martí International Airport in Havana. Its network has shrunk sharply in recent years because of aircraft and fuel shortages.
Please note: bookingMentor is an independent travel service and is not affiliated with Cubana de Aviación. Cubana’s schedule has been cut back severely and can change at short notice, so always confirm your flight directly with the airline.
What to expect
Cubana de Aviación is the flag carrier and largest airline of Cuba, owned by the Cuban government since May 1959 and based at José Martí International Airport in Havana. It suits travellers who need one of its few remaining routes, within Cuba or to Venezuela or Spain, and who can live with schedule changes at short notice. It was founded on 8 October 1929 and flew its first scheduled service on 30 October 1930.
What Cubana flies in 2026
The network is now very small. In January 2025 Cubana flew two domestic routes within Cuba plus international flights to Venezuela and Spain. For summer 2026 the Madrid flight was cut to one a week via Santiago de Cuba. In 2024 the airline lost its flights to Argentina after it was refused further fuel supplies. Anyone planning a trip should have a backup on another airline that serves Havana.
Why the network shrank
After the Soviet Union broke up, spare parts for Cubana's Soviet-built fleet became hard to find, and the US embargo limits access to Western aircraft and components. A fleet renewal from 2004 relied on Russian-built aircraft, but maintenance problems followed, and since 2018 all its Antonov An-158 jets have been stored. Fuel shortages in Cuba have made things worse.
A long history
Cubana was founded by Clement Melville Keys, and Pan American bought it in 1932. Its first aircraft were Curtiss Robins, Sikorsky S-38s and Ford Trimotors. It was a founding member of IATA in 1945 and began flying to Miami the same year. After the 1959 revolution it became the first airline in the Americas to fly Soviet-built aircraft.
Codeshares with Aeroflot and other airlines
Cubana is not part of an alliance. It has codeshares with Aeroflot, Air Caraïbes, Avianca, Avianca El Salvador, Neos and Sunrise Airways, and an interline agreement with Hahn Air. The parent company is Corporación de la Aviación Civil S.A., and the chief executive is Arturo Bada Álvarez.
Booking officially and checking flight status
Book only through official Cubana channels or a trusted agent. Check your flight status shortly before travel, confirm the baggage allowance for your fare with the airline, and keep the contact details for your booking agent with you in case the flight is moved.
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Good to know
- AllianceNone
- Founded1929
Everything you should know
At a glance
Cubana de Aviación (IATA: CU, ICAO: CUB) is the flag carrier of Cuba, based at José Martí International Airport in Havana. Founded in 1929, it flies Ilyushin Il-96, Tupolev Tu-204, Antonov An-158 and ATR 72 aircraft, but as of 2025 its scheduled network was limited to two domestic routes plus Caracas and Madrid.
| Headquarters | Havana, Cuba |
|---|---|
| Fleet types | Ilyushin Il-96-300, Tupolev Tu-204, Antonov An-158 and ATR 72-200 |
| Official website | cubana.cu |
Flight routes
Destinations and routes
Cubana’s network was cut back sharply; as of January 2025 it flew two domestic routes plus these international destinations.
Search flights
Current network (2025)
Havana (HAV) departures2 destinations
FromTo HAV CCS HavanaCaracas Available airlines1 airline- Cubana de Aviación
FromTo HAV MAD HavanaMadrid Available airlines1 airline- Cubana de Aviación
Fleet and aircraft
In July 2026 Cubana listed 15 aircraft: six Antonov An-158s, two ATR 72-200 turboprops, four Ilyushin Il-96-300 widebodies, two Tupolev Tu-204-100E jets and one Tu-204-100CE freighter. Several of these, including all the An-158s, are stored and do not fly. The Il-96 flies long-haul and has Business and Economy cabins, and the ATR serves domestic routes.
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Ilyushin Il-96-300 Wide-body · 4 in service Long-haul routes
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Tupolev Tu-204 Narrow-body · 3 in service Regional routes
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Antonov An-158 Regional jet · 6 in service Domestic and regional routes
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ATR 72-200 Turboprop · 2 in service Domestic routes
Cabin classes
The Cubana cabin classes are being added
Choose your cabin when you search; each fare shows what it includes.
Frequent flyer programme
Details of the Cubana loyalty programme are being added
Add your membership number when you book to earn miles.
Baggage allowance
Cubana does not give every passenger the same allowance: the route, the cabin and the fare you buy each change it. Your CU e-ticket shows what you have.
Checked baggage
On your e-ticket
Cabin baggage
Set by your fare
Extra bags
Add online before you fly
Power banks
Cabin bag only
A long-haul Cubana trip and a short hop can come with different allowances, and every cabin above the lowest economy fare gets more. The baggage page on cubana.cu shows the rule for your route.
Pro tip: measure your cabin bag against the Cubana size limit before you pack, and add any extra checked weight in your booking, where it usually costs less than at the airport.
Travel day
Online Check-in
Getting through check-in for Cubana is simpler in this order. Start online and finish at bag drop.
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Step 1
Check in online
Online check-in for CU flights is on the official Cubana website. You need the CU booking reference or e-ticket number and the passenger’s surname.
Booking ref + surname -
Step 2
Prepare your documents
Pack your passport plus any visa, residence permit or entry papers your destination asks for. Domestic CU passengers should bring a photo ID the airline accepts.
Passport · visa · ID -
Step 3
Arrive early
Cubana closes its check-in counters before departure, and passengers who miss the cut-off can be refused boarding. Leave room for bag drop and security at HAV.
Check your deadline -
Step 4
Drop your bags
Cubana desks and bag-drop points take your hold luggage. Keep the bag-tag receipt with your boarding pass until the bags come off at the end of your CU trip.
Cubana counter
Ready to check in?
Check in and manage your booking on the official Cubana website.
Save money
Cheap tickets
Ways to pay less for a Cubana ticket, from the dates you choose to the fare type you buy.
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01
Be flexible with your Cubana dates
Cubana fares are often lower on midweek departures. Search a spread of dates around your trip to find the cheaper days.
Midweek flights -
02
Travel around the busy dates
Holiday peaks push up fares on routes from Havana. Shift your Cubana trip just outside them where you can.
School holidays · festivals -
03
Price the bundle, not the base fare
Look at the next Cubana fare up: if it bundles a hold bag or easier changes, it may beat the basic fare plus extras.
Baggage & changes -
04
Plan popular routes ahead
On busy Cubana routes such as HAV to Caracas, booking several weeks ahead usually leaves more fares to choose from.
Popular routes -
05
Compare nearby airports
If your city has more than one airport, price Cubana and its rivals from each before you book.
Alternative airports -
Ready to compare fares?
Search Cubana alongside every other airline on your route, with flexible dates.
Search Cubana flights
Reviews and questions
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Visitors are asking
CU is the IATA code you see on tickets and departure boards. CUB is the ICAO code used in air traffic control, and pilots use the radio callsign CUBANA.
Its main hub is José Martí International (HAV) in Havana, and its head office is in Havana, Cuba.
No. Cubana has not joined Star Alliance, oneworld or SkyTeam.
Its fleet (as of July 2026) is made up of Ilyushin Il-96-300, Tupolev Tu-204, Antonov An-158 and ATR 72-200.
As of January 2025, Cubana operated two domestic routes within Cuba and international flights to Caracas and Madrid. Check with the airline before you plan around it.
Open Manage Booking on cubana.cu or check your e-ticket. Cubana sets the allowance by route, cabin and fare type.
Still looking?
Get an answer from the bookingMentor travel team and travellers who have flown Cubana.
Need help?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Everything travellers ask before flying Cubana de Aviación.
Answers checked against Cubana’s official website and published airline records. Reviewed 10 October 2026.
General
Yes, but on a very small network. In early 2026 Cubana announced one weekly flight between Madrid, Santiago de Cuba and Havana for the summer season, because of the fuel crisis in Cuba. It also runs a few domestic and Venezuela flights.
Cubana is based at José Martí International Airport in Havana. Its international flights, including the Madrid service, start or finish there, and some flights also stop in Santiago de Cuba.
Cubana mainly uses Russian built aircraft, including Ilyushin Il-96 widebodies and Tupolev Tu-204 jets, plus ATR 72 turboprops on domestic routes. Some aircraft, such as its Antonov An-158 jets, have been stored for years.
Cubana's Ilyushin Il-96 aircraft, used on long-haul flights such as Madrid, have Business and Economy cabins. Cabin options can differ on other aircraft, so check your booking for the cabin available on your specific flight.
All of Cubana's Antonov An-158s have been stored since 2018 because of ongoing maintenance problems.
No. Cubana lost its Argentina flights in 2024 after it was refused further fuel supplies.
Contact Cubana de Aviación through its official website, cubana.cu.
Cancellations & changes
Schedules can change at short notice, so check your flight status and baggage allowance with Cubana or your travel agent before you travel. The airline asks passengers with tickets to review their individual booking when schedules change.
Getting there
Aeroflot, Air Caraïbes, Avianca, Avianca El Salvador, Neos and Sunrise Airways. Hahn Air is an interline partner.
Cubana de Aviación uses the IATA code CU and the ICAO code CUB. Its radio callsign is CUBANA.
Check in on cubana.cu. The Check-in section of this guide walks through it in 4 steps.
No, Cubana de Aviación is not a member of Star Alliance, oneworld or SkyTeam.
Booking
15 were listed in July 2026, but several, including all six An-158s, are stored.
Cubana de Aviación flies to very limited network. They are listed by region, with fares and route guides where we have them, in the destinations section of this page.
Timing & weather
Cubana was founded on 8 October 1929 and began scheduled flights on 30 October 1930.