Sunwing Vacations Group has decided to suspend its operations in Cuba indefinitely. This decision follows the earlier announcement made by the Sunwing Vacations Group, WestJet Vacations, and WestJet Vacations Québec in April regarding the cancellation of all services to Cuba from June 20 to October 9.
In a statement, Sunwing expressed understanding that this news might be disappointing to travelers and travel advisors, given the strong bond many Canadians share with Cuba and its people. While the company did not directly attribute the indefinite suspension to the ongoing fuel shortage in Cuba, it acknowledged the challenges faced by locals.
The company stated, “Cuba has always been a beloved destination for our guests, and we are conscious of the difficulties currently experienced by local communities, tourism workers, and industry partners dependent on the sector.”
Major Canadian airlines had initially halted flights to Cuba in February when Cuban airports issued warnings about dwindling jet fuel supplies. The disruption in oil shipments to Cuba due to the U.S. sanctions against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had severely impacted the country’s aviation gas supply and electricity grid fuel.
According to Cuba’s energy minister, the nation had completely depleted its diesel and oil reserves last month. AirTransat also confirmed the ongoing suspension of its Cuba services until the end of October, with no current availability of travel packages to the destination.
Sunwing assured customers with existing bookings to Cuba that they would be contacted regarding alternative options, such as rebooking to a different location or receiving a full refund.
