Air Transat pauses Cuba sales for June–October amid schedule review

This story was updated on Wednesday April 15 at 11:44 a.m. EST.

Air Transat is reviewing its summer Cuba flight schedule amid an ongoing fuel shortage on the island and heightened geopolitical uncertainty, PAX has learned.

In an update shared Tuesday (April 14), the Montreal-based airline said it will decide in the coming weeks when it will officially resume service to Cuba.

In the meantime, the airline says flights to Cuba scheduled between mid-June and the end of October 2026 will remain temporarily closed for sale.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and will communicate updates once a decision has been reached. If need be, clients holding a reservation will be contacted directly to inform them of the options available to them,” Air Transat wrote PAX in an email. “We thank our clients for their understanding.”

The update could revise Air Transat’s previously scheduled Cuba launch date of June 20 – a date that was cited in a memo shared with travel advisors last month.

In the absence of short-term alternatives, all Transat bookings with departures scheduled from Canada to Cuba have been automatically refunded.

Cuba’s energy crisis

Cuba is grappling with a severe energy crisis after disruptions in Venezuelan oil supplies, fronted by the United States, left the country’s airports short of jet fuel, prompting Canadian airlines to suspend service in February.

As previously reported, Sunwing Vacations and Vacances WestJet Québec initially planned to resume their Cuba operations, via WestJet, on June 20, with packages to Varadero (VRA) and Cayo Coco (CCC) from Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City.

However, late Wednesday morning, shortly after this story was published, Sunwing Vacations Group revealed that it will be extending its pause on Cuba until October 9. See details here. 

Air Canada, meanwhile, has pushed back the return of its Cuba service until November 1, 2026, citing ongoing operational issues including power outages and hotel closures on the island.

At the same time, Flair Airlines was recently given a green light by the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) to operate Cuba flights.  

No official launch dates or flight schedules have been released by Flair just yet.

The Government of Canada is currently warning citizens against all non-essential travel to Cuba, pointing to deepening shortages of fuel, electricity, food, water, and medicine.

Still, some tour operators, such as Enjoy Travel Group and Hola Sun Holidays, have continued to promote the island nation.

Hola Sun’s main connections to Cuba currently include flights via the United States (American Airlines, Southwest, and Delta Air Lines), Mexico City and Cancun (Aeroméxico, Viva Aerobus, and Magnicharter) and Panama (Copa Airlines).

FITCuba still a go

Despite headwinds, Cuba’s International Tourism Fair, FITCuba, will still go ahead this year, but in a hybrid format that features in-person and virtual sessions.

“For decades, a unique bond has connected Canada and Cuba. As the island looks forward to resuming full-scale operations, FITCuba 2026 serves as a vibrant invitation to keep that special friendship alive,” wrote the Cuba Tourist Board in a press release.

“This year’s fair is designed to bridge the distance, blending modern digital efficiency with the incomparable warmth of Cuban hospitality.”

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