WestJet & Sunwing to wind down operations to Cuba

The WestJet Group says it will begin an “orderly wind down” of its winter operations to Cuba as the island faces an ongoing aviation fuel shortage.

“To lessen the strain on local resources, beginning today, WestJet will depart Canada with empty aircraft to support the organized return of guests currently vacationing in Cuba,” the airline wrote in a press release late Monday (Feb. 9). “All aircraft dispatched to Cuba will carry sufficient fuel to safely depart without reliance on local fuel availability.”

The action applies to WestJet, Sunwing Vacations, WestJet Vacations and Vacances WestJet Quebec. 

It also reverses a decision made earlier Monday, when WestJet said it would continue operating flights to Cuba while offering customers flexible rebooking options.

In a statement about its decision, the airline said it is “aligning with our focus to put guests and crew first and protect the integrity of our operation.”

“All flights will carry sufficient fuel to ensure a safe departure without relying on local fuel availability,” WestJet said. “At this time, there are no safety or security concerns for our guests who remain in Cuba.”

Clients who are scheduled to travel to Cuba on a flight or vacation package with WestJet, Sunwing Vacations, WestJet Vacations, or Vacances WestJet Québec will have their trip cancelled, the company said.

Affected guests will also receive communication with options, including refunds or flexible changes. More information can be found here.

Low on gas 

The move follows in the footsteps of Air Canada, which, early Monday, said it would halt flights to Cuba after an international NOTAM system (Notice to Air Missions) flagged the unreliability of jet fuel supply in the destination on Sunday.  

The airline projects that as of Feb. 10, aviation fuel will not be commercially available at Cuba’s airports.

Over the coming days, Air Canada plans to operate empty flights to Cuba to pick up and return roughly 3,000 customers currently in destination. For remaining flights, it will tanker extra fuel and make technical stops as needed to refuel on the return journey.

In a press release issued later Monday afternoon, Air Canada said seasonal flights to Holguín and Santa Clara were cancelled for the rest of the season.

Flights to Varadero and Cayo Coco, which are normally year-round, are currently suspended, with a tentative restart on May 1 (pending review), the airline said.

The carrier said it will look to redeploy aircraft normally used on the Cuba program to other destinations.

Air Transat also revealed Monday night that it is halting Cuba flights until April 30, 2026. 

In a press release, the airline said it is in the process of organizing repatriation flights to bring its customers back to Canada, which will be scheduled over the coming days. 

Travellers currently in destination who booked a Transat all‑inclusive package "can rely on the support of on‑site representative teams, who remain available to answer questions," the company said. 

Air Transat will reach out to all customers currently in destination to share details about their return flights.

All existing bookings for travel to Cuba scheduled between February 11 and April 30, 2026 will also be automatically cancelled and refunded to the original form of payment on file, the airline said. 

"No action is required from customers," the company said. 

Since Jan. 3, when the U.S. carried out a military operation that removed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power — a leader who has long been closely allied with Cuba — the Trump administration has been trying to tighten its pressure on the Cuban government.

The Government of Canada's travel advice page for Cuba currently warns Canadians to exercise "a high degree of caution" due to worsening shortages of electricity, fuel and basic necessities including food, water, and medicine, "which can also affect resorts." 

"The situation is unpredictable and could deteriorate, disrupting flight availability on short notice," the notice reads. 

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