Canada’s main airways have all suspended service to Cuba, with Air Transat saying Monday night it was becoming a member of Air Canada and WestJet in cancelling all flights, because the Caribbean island’s main airport warns it’ll run out of jet gasoline.
All three airways mentioned that they had plans to carry travellers dwelling to Canada.
Over the next days, Air Canada will fly empty planes to choose up roughly 3,000 prospects already in Cuba and return them dwelling, the airline mentioned Monday in an announcement.
- Are you contemplating altering your journey plans to Cuba? We need to hear from you. Ship an e mail to ask@cbc.ca.
“Air Canada took the choice following advisories issued by governments (NOTAMs) relating to the unreliability of the aviation gasoline provide at Cuban airports,” the assertion reads.
“For remaining flights, Air Canada will tanker in further gasoline and make a technical stops as essential to refuel on the return journey if essential.”
Air Canada introduced that seasonal flights to Holguín and Santa Clara are cancelled for the remainder of the season, and that flights to Varadero and Cayo Coco are schedule to function year-round however are at present suspended “with a tentative restart, pending evaluation, on Might 1.”
In an e mail to CBC Information, WestJet mentioned it will wind down winter operations to Cuba as of Feb. 9, with plans to renew service to the island April 26. In a later assertion, it confirmed the choice would additionally embody Sunwing Holidays, WestJet Holidays and Vacances WestJet Quebec.
WestJet mentioned it was additionally sending empty plane to Cuba beginning Monday to make sure the protected return of visitors at present vacationing in Cuba.
“All plane dispatched to Cuba will carry adequate gasoline to soundly depart with out reliance on native gasoline availability,” it mentioned.
In an official discover referred to as a NOTAM posted to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) web site Sunday, Havana’s José Martí Worldwide Airport warns “Jet A1 gasoline not obtainable” as of Tuesday, with the warning operating till March 11.
A NOTAM, or “discover to airmen,” is an official discover containing data important to personnel involved with flight operations, in line with the FAA. The NOTAM for the Havana airport is assessed as “worldwide,” that means it’s meant to be seen by a number of nations.
Air Canada says it’ll droop flights to Cuba and run empty flights to choose up prospects already on the island to carry them dwelling. The island’s primary airport in Havana has warned it’ll run out of jet gasoline. Cuba has not obtained crude or refined oil merchandise from its prime ally, Venezuela, because the U.S. moved to dam the South American nation’s exports.
This comes days after Canada’s federal authorities issued a journey advisory for Cuba, warning that an ongoing scarcity of gasoline may have an effect on resorts and flights.
Cuba has traditionally relied on Venezuela to supply a lot of its jet gasoline, as Reuters factors out, however the Caribbean island nation has not obtained any crude or refined merchandise from its prime ally since mid-December, when the U.S. moved to dam the South American nation’s exports.
The NOTAM not solely means that the U.S. is trying to chop off vitality and gasoline from reaching Cuba, however that the U.S. can also be attempting to isolate Cuba from the remainder of the world, Tamanisha John, an assistant politics professor at York College who research Caribbean improvement, informed CBC Information.
“It’s no secret that Cuba depends on humanitarian help and tourism, which attain the nation predominantly by airplanes,” John mentioned.
Airways provide choices
By Monday, Air Canada, WestJet, Air Transat and Sunwing all introduced versatile rebooking or cancellation choices. Air Canada mentioned in its information launch that any prospects with affected flights will robotically obtain a full refund. Air Canada Holidays, the tour working arm of the airline, can also be introducing a refund coverage for these with scheduled departures.
WestJet posted an advisory Sunday providing choices for all flights to and from Cuba from Sunday to Feb. 26, 2026.
Whereas Air Transat initially mentioned its flights would function as scheduled, it reversed course Monday night, saying it was suspending service till April 30. The airline mentioned bookings to Cuba between Wednesday and the top of April could be robotically cancelled and refunded.
“We’re at present organizing a return plan to Canada, which incorporates common flights in addition to extra repatriation flights,” it mentioned in a discover on its web site.
As well as, Transat famous that a number of resorts in Cuba had been shut down briefly “attributable to low occupancy charges,” and is permitting affected prospects to change the date, resort, or vacation spot of their journey with out penalty.
Tryp Cayo Coco and Sol Cayo Santa Maria, for example, each say they’re closed till November, in line with their reserving web sites.
The Cuban Aviation Company revealed a brief assertion on Monday morning, simply hours after the NOTAM was issued, however made no point out of the gasoline scarcity or flight cancelations.
“We proceed working tirelessly to make sure the security, fluidity and order of the airspace, supporting airline operations and guaranteeing that aviation in Cuba maintains the degrees of reliability that characterize us,” famous the assertion, which was posted to Fb.
WATCH | What to know in regards to the Cuba journey alert:
The federal authorities has upgraded its journey recommendation for Cuba, warning Canadians planning a trip to the island of worsening shortages of gasoline and meals. McKenzie MacMillan, a managing accomplice at The Journey Group, says he wasn’t stunned to listen to in regards to the alert.
Journeys cancelled
In its assertion, Air Canada famous it operates about 16 weekly flights to Cuba out of Toronto and Montreal.
On Monday afternoon, the web site for Toronto’s Pearson Worldwide Airport confirmed a cancelled Air Canada flight to Cayo Coco, however a WestJet flight was nonetheless scheduled.
For Tuesday, two Air Canada flights to Cuba had been listed as cancelled.
Montreal-Trudeau Worldwide Airport posted a discover Monday that some carriers have suspended or modified flights “attributable to an aviation gasoline scarcity in Cuba.”
Kim Darby of Burlington, Ont., informed CBC Information Air Canada cancelled his upcoming flight to Cayo Santa Maria. It might have been his seventh journey to Cuba, the place Darby enjoys fishing for bonefish on the flats.
“The seashores are nice, and the individuals are nice. I do not want fancy meals,” Darby, 71, informed CBC Information
Darby says he booked his two-week journey on Dec. 23. He and his spouse had been meant to go away March 27. On Thursday, Air Canada Holidays despatched Darby an e mail that their flight was cancelled, with out offering a particular motive.
CBC Information has seen the e-mail. In journey boards, different Air Canada prospects have mentioned the corporate cancelled their Cuba journeys, too.
Darby says they rebooked their trip in Negril, Jamaica, with out penalty, though they must pay the distinction, since Negril is dearer.
“There’s nearly no fishing there, however we’ll have a pleasant enjoyable two weeks,” he mentioned.
Whereas Darby and his spouse had been disillusioned about their Santa Maria journey, he added in addition they did not need Cuba prioritizing its restricted sources for resorts.
“If there are gasoline shortages and meals, it ought to go to the folks. Vacationers can go elsewhere.”
However John, the Caribbean improvement skilled, mentioned the Cuban authorities may be very environment friendly at rationing and using the provides that it does have, and added she does not suppose Canadians ought to keep away from travelling there.
“Canadians touring to Cuba would possibly discover themselves staying in higher lodging because the Cuban authorities prioritizes protecting its greatest vacationer amenities operational,” she mentioned.
And she or he famous that planes can nonetheless refuel at different airports within the Caribbean. Air France, for example, informed AFP Information it will be making different stops within the Caribbean to refuel.
And Air Europa will make a refueling cease at Santo Domingo Airport within the Dominican Republic as a part of its service between Madrid and Havana beginning on Tuesday, in line with Reuters.
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