Sunwing Vacations has decided to extend and widen its suspension of operations in Cuba due to the ongoing disruption in oil supplies to the popular tourist destination. The suspension affects all entities under the Sunwing Vacations Group, such as Sunwing Vacations, WestJet Vacations, and Vacances WestJet Quebec, with cancellations in effect from June 20 to October 9.
Flights to Varadero and Cayo Coco for the summer season, initially scheduled to proceed, have also been halted. Sunwing has confirmed that services to these locations will resume on October 10, as per a statement provided to CBC News on Thursday. Additionally, operations to Holguin, Santa Clara, Cayo Largo, and Cienfuegos are set to recommence on October 25.
Sunwing, a subsidiary of WestJet Group, will continue to monitor the situation closely and update customers accordingly. Alternative travel options will be offered to affected customers, with trips to destinations like Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, Punta Cana, and Montego Bay still available.
The suspension of flights to Cuba was initially triggered in February by Canada’s major airlines due to fuel shortages at Cuban airports. WestJet had announced the winding down of winter operations to Cuba, with plans to resume services on April 26.
The disruption in oil supply to Cuba was a result of U.S. President Donald Trump’s actions against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January. Trump’s executive order, which threatened tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba, further exacerbated the fuel crisis in the nation. This crisis has led to challenges in daily life for locals, including countrywide blackouts and escalating prices of essential goods.
