Sunwing Vacations Group has decided to halt its operations in Cuba indefinitely. This decision follows the earlier announcement in April by Sunwing Vacations, WestJet Vacations, and WestJet Vacations Québec regarding the cancellation of all services to Cuba from June 20 to October 9.
In a statement, Sunwing acknowledged the disappointment this news may bring to guests and travel advisors, especially considering the strong ties many Canadians have with Cuba. While the company did not directly attribute the indefinite suspension to the ongoing fuel shortage in Cuba, it emphasized the challenges faced by locals.
Cuba has traditionally been a beloved destination for Sunwing’s guests, but the company expressed concern for the current difficulties experienced by local communities, tourism workers, and industry partners reliant on the sector.
Canada’s major airlines initially ceased flights to Cuba in February due to warnings from Cuban airports about dwindling jet fuel supplies. The disruption in oil shipments to Cuba caused by the U.S. capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro has severely impacted the island nation’s aviation gas and electricity fuel supply.
The country’s energy minister indicated last month that Cuba had completely exhausted its diesel and oil reserves. AirTransat has also confirmed the continued suspension of its Cuba services until the end of October, with no current availability of packages to the country.
Sunwing will be reaching out to customers with existing bookings for trips to Cuba to offer alternative arrangements, such as rebooking to a different destination or receiving a full refund.