Sunwing Vacations Group has made the decision to halt its operations in Cuba indefinitely. This move follows the previous announcement in April by Sunwing Vacations, WestJet Vacations, and WestJet Vacations Québec about the cancellation of all services to Cuba from June 20 to Oct. 9.
In a statement, Sunwing acknowledged the disappointment that this news may bring to guests and travel advisors, especially considering the strong bond many Canadians have with Cuba and its people. While not directly attributing the decision to the ongoing fuel scarcity in Cuba, Sunwing mentioned the hardships faced by the local population.
Cuba has traditionally been a beloved destination for Sunwing’s guests, but the company expressed awareness of the difficulties currently being experienced by local communities, tourism workers, and industry partners reliant on the sector.
Major Canadian airlines had initially suspended flights to Cuba in February due to warnings from Cuban airports about depleting jet fuel supplies. The interruption in oil shipments to Cuba, resulting from the U.S. intervention in Venezuela, led to a severe shortage of aviation fuel and electricity supply on the island.
The energy minister of Cuba disclosed last month that the country had completely exhausted its diesel and oil reserves. AirTransat also confirmed that its services to Cuba would remain suspended until the end of October, with no current availability of travel packages to the nation.
Sunwing assured customers with existing bookings to Cuba that they would be contacted with alternatives, including the option to reschedule to a different destination or receive a full refund.