Sunwing Vacations has announced an extension of its operational suspension in Cuba due to the country’s ongoing oil supply issues. All operations under Sunwing Vacations Group, including Sunwing Vacations, WestJet Vacations, and Vacances WestJet Quebec in Cuba, will be canceled from June 20 to Oct. 9. Flights to Varadero and Cayo Coco for the summer season, originally scheduled to proceed, are now on hold and will resume on Oct. 10, as per a statement from Sunwing to CBC News.
Services to Holguin, Santa Clara, Cayo Largo, and Cienfuegos are set to resume on Oct. 25, with the company closely monitoring the situation for any further updates. Sunwing Vacations Group, a division of WestJet Group, assures affected customers that alternative travel options will be offered. Trips to popular vacation spots like Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, Punta Cana, and Montego Bay are still available.
Canadian airlines initially halted flights to Cuba back in February when Cuban airports faced a jet fuel shortage. WestJet mentioned in February its plans to conclude winter operations to Cuba with intentions to resume services on April 26.
The disruption in Cuba’s oil supply stems from U.S. President Donald Trump’s actions against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro earlier this year. Trump’s executive order threatened tariffs on countries selling oil to Cuba, exacerbating the fuel crisis in the nation. The shortage has had severe effects on the daily lives of locals, leading to widespread blackouts and significant price hikes on essential food items.
