Air Canada, ACV, Transat activate flexible rebooking polices for Cuba; resorts temporarily close

As Cuba continues to grapple with an escalating fuel shortage and rolling power outages, airlines and tour operators have begun activating flexible rebooking policies.

Air Canada announced a policy on February 6 that allows customers to make voluntary changes to their Cuba-bound bookings.

The policy applies to customers who purchased an Air Canada ticket no later than Feb. 5, 2026, for travel between February 6 and February 25, 2026, for flights to or from:

1. Cayo Coco - Jardines del Rey Airport (CCC)
2. Holguín - Frank País Airport (HOG)
3. Santa Clara - Abel Santamaría Airport (SNU)
4. Varadero - Juan Gualberto Gómez Airport (VRA)

Customers who are scheduled to travel during the affected period can contact Air Canada at 1-888-247-2262 to change their flight, free of charge, to another Air Canada destination, subject to availability in the cabin originally purchased.

A fare difference may apply, the airline says.

Travellers who prefer not to travel can also cancel their booking and choose to receive a credit to your AC Wallet or convert the value of your ticket to a Future Travel Credit.

Air Canada Vacations (ACV) is offering a similar policy.

In a message shared with trade partners Friday (Feb. 6), the tour operator said t will offer customers with imminent travel plans to Cuba an option to change their booking.

ACV customers who have purchased a travel package to Cuba that includes an Air Canada or Air Canada Rouge flight on or before February 5, 2026, for travel dates between February 6 and February 25, 2026, can modify their booking without incurring change fees and rebook for an alternate travel plan.

“Please know that we are here to support you,” ACV wrote, noting that call centres might experience higher call volumes at this time, reminding agents to use self-serve options when available.

Customers have the option to change their travel date or opt for a future travel credit, which will be valid for one year.

Agents can click here to request this option for their customers. Travel advisors can also fill the form on behalf of their client.

For Group bookings, agents are advised to contact their Groups coordinator.

“Air Canada Vacations will continue to monitor the situation closely and keep you informed of any new developments,” ACV wrote.

Transat also sent a communication to travel advisors Friday, outlining some flexibility for Cuba bookings.

The company specifies that some temporary hotel closures are directly linked to low occupancy levels in some regions.

Some clients already at their destination have been relocated to properties of an equivalent or higher category, and additional relocations may occur if needed.

Transat says it is working with local authorities to obtain the complete and final list of affected hotels.

The company’s flexible booking policy applies to departures scheduled between February 7 and April 30, 2026, for clients staying at an affected hotel.

Travellers can change their departure date without penalty or, in the case of individual bookings, receive a travel credit valid for one year, issued within 48 hours.

A list of temporarily closed hotels—located notably in Cayo Santa Maria, Cayo Coco, Varadero, and Holguín—has been sent to travel advisors, along with instructions not to cancel bookings. 

Sunwing and WestJet, meanwhile, say they are monitoring the situation in Cuba, working with the relevant authorities. No specific flexibility measures have been announced at this time.

Resorts close, guests moved

The updates come as U.S. President Donald Trump’s push to cut off fuel supplies to Cuba begin to hit key segments of the island’s tourism sector.

Reports say the fuel shortages are forcing the closure of at least two major beachfront resorts on Cayo Coco, with roughly 200 guests set to be relocated to Sol Cayo Coco, reports Bloomberg.

The Government of Canada updated its travel advice for Cuba last week, cautioning Canadians eyeing a winter getaway that deepening shortages—ranging from fuel to food—could affect resort stays.

“Exercise a high degree of caution in Cuba due to worsening shortages of electricity, fuel, and basic necessities including food, water and medicine, which can also affect resorts,” the advisory says.

Overall, 1.6 million tourists visited Cuba from January to November 2025—well below the 4.8 million recorded in 2018 and 4.2 million in 2019, before the pandemic, according to The Associated Press.

In a recent statement, the Cuba Tourist Board in Toronto said Canada remains the country’s largest source market and told travellers that resort operations are functioning “normally and securely for the 2025-26 winter season.”

The board said Cuba’s Ministry of Tourism “took proactive measures throughout the fall to ensure a seamless winter peak,” adding that fuel, food and essential goods were secured in advance.

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