Hurricane Melissa: Airlines activate flexible policies for Jamaica, Cuba, Turks & Caicos

Canadian airlines have activated flexible rebooking policies as Hurricane Melissa, now a Category 5 storm, nears Jamaica and parts of Cuba while putting other Caribbean regions on high alert.

Air Canada

Air Canada has revised its ticketing policy for customers travelling on an affected flight so they can make changes to their booking without penalty – space permitting.

According to the airline’s website, changes can be made for Air Canada flights to Montego Bay scheduled for Oct. 27, 28 and 29. The policy also applies to Air Canada’s flights to Kingston on Oct. 28 and 29.

In Jamaica, Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) on October 25 while Sangster International Airport (SIA) closed on October 26.

Sangster, which is based in Montego Bay, is so far scheduled to reopen on Wednesday (Oct. 29) at 12:00 p.m.

“Following the hurricane, a comprehensive assessment will be conducted to determine when it is safe to resume operations,” the airport wrote in a statement issued late Saturday. “Updates will be communicated promptly. We once again urge all stakeholders to take necessary precautions during the passage of this dangerous system.”

Jamaica’s Ian Flemming Airport, Tinson Pen Aerodrome and Ken Jones Aerodrome are also closed.

Air Canada has also activated flexible ticketing policies for San Salvador, the capital and the largest city of El Salvador, for Oct. 28, as well as Varadero and Cayo Coco in Cuba for the same dates.

Providenciales (PLS) airport in the Turks and Caicos Islands, which is on hurricane watch, is also named in Air Canada’s travel advisory for Oct. 29.

Air Canada customers can retrieve their booking to change their flight free of change, the airline says.

Those who purchased a ticket with Air Canada Vacations are advised to contact them directly at 1-800-296-3408.

Air Canada has also prepared more information on its re-booking policies for anticipated flight delays and cancellations.

“Air Canada is monitoring the situation closely and is working to get you on your way safely and as quickly as possible,” the airline said.

Air Transat

Air Transat has posted a hurricane notice to its website, cancelling the following flights:

• TS516 – October 28: Toronto (YYZ) → Montego Bay (MBJ)
• TS484 – October 29: Montreal (YUL) → Montego Bay (MBJ)
• TS485 – October 29: Montego Bay (MBJ) → Montreal (YUL)
• TS516 – October 29: Toronto (YYZ) → Montego Bay (MBJ)
• TS517 – October 29: Montego Bay (MBJ) → Toronto (YYZ)

Repatriation flights

The airline says it will operate three repatriation flights will operate on Monday (Oct. 27) to bring its customers back to Canada:

• Flight TS9467: Departing Holguín (HOG) at 5:10 p.m., arriving in Montreal (YUL) at 9:05 p.m. (local times).
• Flight TS9955: Departing Holguín (HOG) at 7:10 p.m., arriving in Toronto (YYZ) at 11:05 p.m. (local times).
• Flight TS9357: Departing Holguín (HOG) at 8:25 p.m., arriving in Montreal (YUL) at 00:25 a.m. (+1) (local times).

“Impacted customers will be contacted directly as soon as possible with further information,” the airline said.

Air Transat is taking measures to ensure the safety of its customers in Holguín, Cuba (HOG).

Three repatriation flights will operate on Monday (Oct. 25) to bring customers back to Canada:

• Flight TS9467: Departing Holguín (HOG) at 17:10, arriving in Montreal (YUL) at 21:05 (local times).
• Flight TS9955: Departing Holguín (HOG) at 19:10, arriving in Toronto (YYZ) at 23:05 (local times).
• Flight TS9357: Departing Holguín (HOG) at 20:25, arriving in Montreal (YUL) at 00:25 (+1) (local times).

Customers with a Transat package, currently at destination, will be contacted and transferred to the airport in the coming hours, the company said.

For Air Transat ticket holders (flight only)

Those who wish to return earlier are advised to contact Air Transat’s Passenger Assistance Line at 00 80 04 24 33 (valid from Cuba). “Options will be offered based on availability,” the company said.

Full details of Transat’s Hurricane Policy are available here.

WestJet 

WestJet’s travel advisory, active up until Oct. 29, applies to Montego Bay and Kingston in Jamaica, as well as Holguín in Cuba.

For all WestJet flight-only bookings for travel between Oct 27 - Oct 29, 2025, valid on all fares, including UltraBasic, customers can access a $0 one-time fee waiver for changes or cancellations.   

“If you change your destination, the difference in fare applies.  Any residual funds are refunded,” the airline writes on its website, sharing other terms and conditions here.

For customers that cancel their booking, the funds will be refunded or credited based on the fare class booked; Basic will receive travel credit.

“If you cancel your booking, any portion paid with WestJet dollars, Travel Bank credit or a WestJet rewards companion voucher will be returned to your account and the original expiration date (if applicable) will apply,” the airline writes.

Change or cancellation must be requested more than two hours prior to departure, the airline adds.

"WestJet is continuing to respond to severe weather near Jamaica, Cuba and other Caribbean travel destinations, by cancelling select flights and enabling flexible travel policies for affected routes," the airline wrote PAX in an email Monday. 

"We apologize for any disruption caused to our guests’ travel plans as a result of this developing situation and we look forward to safely resuming operations to get our guests on their way once the weather system has passed. We advise all guests to check the status of their flight before leaving for the airport." 

Options also available for customers who booked with WestJet Vacations. Click here for more.

Sunwing

Sunwing Vacations, which is part of the WestJet Group, has also posted flexible policies in response to Hurrrican Melissa.

Customers scheduled to depart to Jamaica on October 27 or 28, 2025 may make a one-time change to their departure date or destination at system rates, the company notes on its website.

The change fee will be waived. However, if the change involves a higher-priced vacation package, the higher amount will be applicable. If the new package price is lower, a refund to the original form of payment will be issued for the difference.

Customers scheduled to depart on October 27 or 28, 2025 may also cancel their reservation with a full refund to the original form of payment, Sunwing says.

Customers with group bookings or who booked through a travel advisor should contact their Groups Coordinator or travel advisor who managed the booking for any changes or cancellations to their travel plans.

Sunwing customers with scheduled travel to Jamaica on Oct. 29 also have flexible rebooking offers. Additionally, options are available for Sunwing customers travelling to Cuba. Click here for more.

For Sunwing guests currently in destination, the company has organized multiple evacuation flights from both Jamaica and Holguin, Cuba to bring as many customers as possible home safely and quickly before the storm makes landfall. The NexusTours teams also remain on-site at hotels providing real-time updates and support. 

"We continue to monitor conditions closely and will provide updates as they become available," Sunwing told PAX in a statement Monday. "We apologize for any disruption caused to our guests’ travel plans as a result of this developing situation and we look forward to safely resuming operations to get our guests on their way once the weather system has passed.

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