Sunwing Vacations has announced an extension and expansion of its operational suspension in Cuba due to disruptions in oil supply. The company, along with its affiliated entities such as WestJet Vacations and Vacances WestJet Quebec, has canceled operations in Cuba from June 20 to October 9. Flights to Varadero and Cayo Coco for the summer season have also been halted, with services expected to resume on October 10 as per a statement provided to CBC News.
Additionally, flights to Holguin, Santa Clara, Cayo Largo, and Cienfuegos will recommence on October 25. Sunwing Vacations Group, a vacation division of WestJet Group, assured that affected customers would be offered alternative travel options, including trips to destinations like Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, Punta Cana, and Montego Bay.
The disruption in aviation services to Cuba began in February when Canadian airlines ceased flights to the island due to fuel shortages at Cuban airports. WestJet had indicated in February its decision to wind down winter operations to Cuba with plans to resume services on April 26.
The oil supply crisis in Cuba was exacerbated by U.S. President Donald Trump’s actions against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January, which led to a disruption in Cuba’s oil supply chain. Trump’s executive order imposing tariffs on countries selling oil to Cuba further exacerbated the fuel scarcity in the nation, impacting the daily lives of locals who have faced power outages and escalating prices for essential goods.