REGINA — Not many travellers counted on a lack of fuel causing disruptions to winter getaway vacations to Cuba this season.
That is exactly what has transpired this week in the wake of an energy crisis hitting Cuba, as the U.S. blockade of oil shipments has led to a shortage of jet fuel.
Airlines have been informed by Cuban authorities that there is not enough fuel in the country for flights to refuel locally. In the wake of that news, Canadian airlines have announced the suspension and winddown of all flights to Cuba.
On Monday, Air Canada announced in a news release that it had suspended all flights to Cuba. The airline said it will operate empty southbound flights to pick up approximately 3,000 customers — most travelling with Air Canada Vacations — who are already at their destinations and return them home. For remaining flights, Air Canada said it will tanker in extra fuel and make technical stops as necessary to refuel on the return journey.
Air Canada Vacations is also introducing a refund policy to allow customers who had scheduled departures to Cuba and experienced flight cancellations to automatically receive a full refund in their original form of payment.
Destinations impacted include Air Canada’s 16 weekly flights from Toronto and Montreal to Cayo Coco, Holguín, Varadero and Santa Clara.
The airline said all its seasonal flights to Holguín and Santa Clara are cancelled for the rest of the season, while flights to Varadero and Cayo Coco are suspended with a tentative restart date of May 1.
Later Monday, Air Transat, as well as WestJet and its subsidiary Sunwing, announced they too had suspended flights to Cuba. The WestJet announcement has direct implications for Saskatchewan, as the airline has operated direct flights from Saskatoon to Varadero.
In a statement from Saskatoon International Airport, the airport said: “Saskatoon Airport has some limited flying into Varadero with WestJet/Sunwing. We recently received notification from WestJet/Sunwing that given the ongoing situation in Cuba, the airline has cancelled all outbound flying to Cuba effective Feb. 9, focusing solely on return flights. The airport advises all passengers with plans to fly to Cuba from Saskatoon to reach out to WestJet/Sunwing directly for the most up-to-date flight information. We do not have an expected restart date for flights to Cuba at this time.”
YXE urged travellers to contact WestJet if they have further questions surrounding the situation and the decision to cancel flights.
In a statement on its website, WestJet Group said it made “the difficult decision to begin an orderly wind-down of our winter operations to Cuba.” The decision applies to WestJet, Sunwing Vacations, WestJet Vacations and Vacances WestJet Québec.
WestJet Group said it has suspended sales for service to Cuba and will “leverage aircraft departing for Cuba to safely bring our guests currently vacationing in destination back home. All flights will carry sufficient fuel to ensure a safe departure without relying on local fuel availability.”
Anyone scheduled to travel to Cuba on a flight or vacation package with WestJet, Sunwing Vacations, WestJet Vacations or Vacances WestJet Québec will have their trip cancelled. WestJet travellers will receive communication outlining options, including refunds or flexible changes, according to the airline.
WestJet stated there are “no safety or security concerns for our guests who remain in Cuba.”
There have been reports, however, of some hotels in Cuba having to close and travellers being transferred to other resorts, as well as reports of shortages and power blackouts across the country.
Avoiding the brunt of the flight disruptions is Regina International Airport. While YQR has offered direct flights to Cuba in past winters, it did not have direct service to the destination this season.
In a statement Tuesday, YQR said: “Although YQR doesn't have any direct flights to Cuba this winter, we still might have travellers from southern Saskatchewan connecting through other cities. All passengers travelling to Cuba should check directly with their airline for any updates or questions about their travel.”
