Sunwing Vacations has announced an extension and expansion of its suspension of operations in Cuba due to the country’s limited access to oil shipments. The suspension affects all entities under the Sunwing Vacations Group, including Sunwing Vacations, WestJet Vacations, and Vacances WestJet Quebec, from June 20 to Oct. 9.
Flights to Varadero and Cayo Coco for the summer season have been canceled, with plans to resume on Oct. 10, as confirmed by Sunwing. Additionally, services to Holguin, Santa Clara, Cayo Largo, and Cienfuegos are set to restart on Oct. 25.
Sunwing Vacations Group, a subsidiary of WestJet Group, will keep a close eye on the situation and update customers accordingly. Affected travelers will be offered alternative options, while trips to destinations like Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, Punta Cana, and Montego Bay remain unaffected.
Major Canadian airlines had initially halted flights to Cuba in February due to dwindling jet fuel supplies at Cuban airports. WestJet had announced a pause in winter operations to Cuba, with plans to resume services on April 26.
The disruption in oil supply to Cuba was triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump’s detention of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January, leading to restrictions on countries selling oil to the Cuban government. This oil crisis has severely impacted the daily lives of Cubans, causing countrywide blackouts and surging prices of essential goods.