Air Canada announced today that it is suspending all flights to Cuba, effective immediately. The decision comes in response to advisories regarding the unreliability of aviation fuel supplies at Cuban airports. According to Air Canada, it is projected that aviation fuel will not be commercially available at the island's airports as of February 10.
The airline stated that its immediate priority is to return approximately 3,000 customers currently in Cuba to Canada. Air Canada will operate empty flights to Cuba to pick up passengers and maintain its regular schedule from Cuba to Canada in the near term. Air Canada has introduced a refund policy, allowing customers with scheduled departures to Cuba who experience flight cancellations to automatically receive a full refund.
WestJet has issued an advisory for all flights to and from Cuba from February 9 to February 26, citing a "power outage". However, WestJet, which owns Sunwing, stated that its flights arrive in Cuba with sufficient fuel to safely depart. Air Transat has also been notified of a temporary suspension of kerosene refueling at Cuban airports but plans to continue operating flights as scheduled. Several resorts in Cuba have temporarily shut down due to low occupancy rates.
Canada and Cuba have maintained strong diplomatic and economic ties since 1945, with Canada being a key tourism market for Cuba. Before the pandemic, over one million Canadians visited Cuba annually. Canada is also Cuba's top market in the Caribbean/Central American sub-region and its largest merchandise export market in that region. The Canadian government advises citizens to exercise a high degree of caution in Cuba, citing shortages of electricity, fuel, and basic necessities.
