Canadian airlines issue important update on Cuba flights

It looks like Canadians hoping to visit Cuba via Sunwing Vacations or WestJet Vacations will have to wait a couple of months longer.

After pausing operations in Cuba, Sunwing Vacations and WestJet Vacations said they plan to further extend the suspension of flights and vacation packages to the popular holiday destination.

"Following a review of our summer program, Sunwing Vacations Group, which includes Sunwing Vacations, WestJet Vacations, and Vacances WestJet Quebec, will extend the pause of operations to Cuba for the 2026 summer season to include Varadero (VRA) and Cayo Coco (CCC)," Sunwing said in an email statement shared with us.

Varadero and Cayo Coco are both known for their beaches and all-inclusive resorts. Sunwing added that operations for all gateways and airports in Cuba have been cancelled from June 20 until October 9. Services to Varadero, Cayo Coco will resume on October 10, while services to Holguin, Santa Clara, Cayo Largo, and Cienfuegos will begin on October 25.

According to Sunwing, Canadians with upcoming trips to Cuba who are affected by the cancellations will be contacted, with all impacted bookings receiving regular Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC) notifications, along with available options.

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. The BBC reports that power cuts in the island nation currently last for 22 hours a day, forcing hotels and tourist attractions to close.

The Government of Canada's travel advisory urges Canadians to "avoid non-essential travel" to Cuba due to the shortages of fuel, electricity, and basic necessities such as food, water, and medicine.

"Fuel availability has decreased, is difficult to predict, and may disrupt ground transportation," reads the statement.