Sunwing, WestJet indefinitely suspend flights to popular destination for Canadians
WestJet and Sunwing Vacations Group are indefinitely suspending flights to a popular beach destination for Canadian tourists.
On Friday, Sunwing Vacations Group — which includes Sunwing Vacations, WestJet Vacations, and WestJet Vacations Quebec — announced that it is shuttering all Cuba operations (including flights and vacation packages) indefinitely until further notice.
The WestJet subsidiary stated that this change aligns operationally across the group, including WestJet Airlines and WestJet Cargo, where applicable.
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“We recognize this news may be disappointing for guests and travel advisors, particularly given the strong connection many Canadians have with Cuba and its people,” reads a statement from Sunwing Vacations Group.
“Cuba has long been a cherished destination for our guests, and we are mindful of the challenges currently facing local communities, tourism workers, and industry partners who rely on the sector.”
Sunwing and WestJet said Canadians with existing flights booked for Cuba will be contacted directly and provided with options, including rebooking to an alternative destination or cancelling for a refund.
“We will continue to monitor developments closely, work with our partners on the ground, and provide updates as more information becomes available,” reads the statement.
This comes after Sunwing and WestJet paused operations in Cuba earlier this year and then further extended the suspension of flights and vacation packages in April.
In February, several airlines announced that they were suspending flights to Cuba as a result of an ongoing energy crisis that has resulted in a shortage of fuel and jet fuel.
Last week, the Caribbean country’s central bank announced that Visa and Mastercard services are suspended.
The Government of Canada updated its travel advisory to reflect the suspension of Visa and Mastercard payments. It continues to warn Canadians to avoid non-essential travel to the popular beach destination due to a continuing shortage of fuel, electricity, food, water, and medicine.
As the U.S. fuel blockade on Cuba continues, citizens have had to live with little running water or electricity for the past few months. A report by the Wall Street Journal says the country’s tourism industry is “completely unravelling” as the fuel shortage deters tourists.
With files from Irish Mae Silvestre