Frontier, Silver latest airlines to suspend regular flights to Cuba

A Frontier Airlines jet loads at the Denver International Airport April 11, 2008. Low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines Holdings has filed for bankruptcy, becoming the fifth U.S. carrier in two weeks to take drastic measures as soaring fuel prices and economic weakness bear down on the industry. REUTERS/Rick Wilking (UNITED STATES) - RTR1ZDNV (Reuters)

Just months after being granted approval to start flying to the Caribbean nation, Silver Airways and Frontier Airlines are getting out of the Cuba business.

According to Travel Pulse, Silver ended service to the country for two reasons: a lack of demand to travel to Cuba and overcapacity by the larger airlines. Both factors have made its own routes to the country financially unsuccessful.

As for the Denver-based Frontier, the airline will also stop flying to and from Cuba from Miami International Airport to Jose Marti International Aiport. The route, which is still currently operating, will cease after June 4.

NORWEGIAN, ROYAL CARIBBEAN APPROVED TO START CUBA CRUISES

Silver’s service will be suspended effective April 22.

The For Lauderdale, Fla.-based budget carrier said that their projections for the amount of passengers flying from the U.S. to Cuba was accurate after travel restrictions to the island were eased by the Obama administration.

However, with steep competition from other carrier-- particularly those with larger aircraft-- has, according to Silver, caused a steep jump in capacity of around 300 percent between the two countries.

“It is not in the best interest of Silver and its team members to behave in the same irrational manner as other airlines,” the company said. “However, Silver will continue to monitor Cuba routes and will consider resuming service in the future if the commercial environment changes.”

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The decision from Silver and Frontier comes after American Airlines announced plans to reduce 25 percent of its flights to Cuba. At the time of the announcement in December, the airline cited weak demand as the principal reason behind the reduction.

And in February, JetBlue announced that they would reduce capacity for flights to Cuba. The airline downsized to smaller aircraft for some of its current flights in an effort to trim 300 seats from JetBlue’s Cuba routes.