Sunwing Vacations Group has decided to halt its operations in Cuba indefinitely. This decision follows the group’s previous announcement in April that it would be canceling all services to Cuba from June 20 to October 9. The company expressed understanding that this news might disappoint guests and travel advisors, given the strong bond many Canadians have with Cuba and its people.
While Sunwing did not specifically attribute the indefinite suspension to the ongoing fuel shortage in Cuba, it acknowledged the challenges faced by locals. The company emphasized that Cuba has always been a beloved destination for its guests and expressed concern for the difficulties experienced by local communities, tourism workers, and industry partners reliant on the sector.
Canada’s major airlines had initially suspended flights to Cuba in February due to dwindling jet fuel supplies on the island. The disruption was linked to the U.S.-imposed oil blockade on Venezuela, which had cut off oil shipments to Cuba, affecting the supply of aviation gas and fuel for the island’s electricity grid.
The country’s energy minister recently confirmed that Cuba had completely exhausted its diesel and oil reserves. AirTransat also informed CBC News that its Cuba services would remain suspended until the end of October, with no current availability of packages to the nation.
Sunwing assured customers with existing bookings to Cuba that they would be contacted with alternative options, such as rebooking to a different destination or receiving a full refund.