Sunwing suspends Cuba operations until further notice; island remains open, says tourist board

Sunwing Vacations Group – inclusive of Sunwing Vacations, WestJet Vacations, and WestJet Vacations Québec – has indefinitely suspended all of its Cuba operations until further notice.

The update comes “following a review of our Cuba program and the current operating environment,” the company said in a press release Friday (June 5).

As part of the broader WestJet Group, the change aligns operationally across the group, including WestJet Airlines and WestJet Cargo, where applicable.

“We recognize this news may be disappointing for guests and travel advisors, particularly given the strong connection many Canadians have with Cuba and its people,” Sunwing wrote in a statement. “Cuba has long been a cherished destination for our guests, and we are mindful of the challenges currently facing local communities, tourism workers, and industry partners who rely on the sector.”

“Our thoughts are with those affected, and we remain hopeful for the destination’s recovery and long-term success.”

Next steps

Guests with existing bookings will be contacted directly and provided with options, including rebooking to an alternative destination or cancelling for a full refund, said Sunwing.

“We will continue to monitor developments closely, work with our partners on the ground, and provide updates as more information becomes available,” the company said.

The update comes on the heels of Air Canada Vacations announcing the same decision late Thursday (June 4).

ACV customers who are affected by the Cuba suspension will be notified and offered options, including a full refund, the tour operator said.

“This measure is to provide customers more certainty with regard to future travel and allow them to explore alternative vacation destinations,” ACV wrote in its message to advisors. “Air Canada Vacations will continue to monitor the situation.”

It appears tour operators are reassessing the situation in Cuba amid recent developments involving the withdrawal of foreign hotel operators from the country.

Over the past week, Meliá Hotels International, Iberostar, Archipelago International and Blue Diamond Resorts have all withdrawn their operations in Cuba due to looming U.S. sanctions.

The country will also suspend Visa and Mastercard payments beginning June 6. This development, for one, delivers another setback to Cuba’s struggling economy and battered tourism sector as the Trump administration intensifies sanctions aimed at increasing pressure on the island’s government.

Historically, credit card payments in Cuba have been processed through a partnership between an international bank and Fincimex, S.A., a financial services company affiliated with GAESA, a military-controlled conglomerate that has been a focus of sanctions imposed during President Trump's administration.

U.S. officials contend that GAESA channels revenue from some of Cuba’s most profitable sectors – including tourism – for the benefit of the military and the country’s ruling elite.

But Cuban authorities have rejected those allegations, maintaining that GAESA operates transparently and supports the nation’s economic growth and social programs.

READ MORE: Iberostar withdraws from managing 12 military-connected hotels in Cuba: report

In recent weeks, the executive order issued by Trump has led a number of foreign businesses – including hotel operators, airlines, and international shipping companies – to scale back or end their operations in Cuba as they seek to avoid entities subject to U.S. sanctions.

Companies were given until June 5 to cease dealings with the sanctioned entities or face potential penalties.

Cuba “remains open,” says tourist board  

Shortly after Sunwing’s announcement was sent to media, the Cuba Tourist Board issued a statement to PAX, responding to the current climate, reiterating that the island remains “firmly open for global tourism, with its attractions, hospitality infrastructure, and logistics fully operational.”

The tourist board says executive orders signed by the U.S. President in January and May 2026, including an order targeting the Cuban tourism sector, “aim to restrict one of the country’s economic pillars by creating a lack of Jet A-1 aviation fuel at national airports and pressuring foreign entities operating on the island.”

“Consequently, several foreign companies have recently felt compelled to cancel their contracts in Cuba,” the tourist board said.  

In a statement, Gihana Galindo, the director of the Cuba Tourist Board in Toronto, said: “While the path with these foreign partners have diverged now, we are deeply grateful for the years we spent building side by side and their impact remains a cornerstone of our success." 

The tourist board notes that many affected properties “were already temporarily closed” due to shifting market demands, ad that Cuba’s tourism operations “will proceed without interruption.”

Properties transitioning out of foreign contracts will maintain normal operations under the management of national hotel chains, including Cubanacán, Gran Caribe and Gaviota, the tourist board said. 

“These national brands guarantee the continuity of all tourist operations, fully honouring confirmed reservations and maintaining established terms for travellers and business partners,” the organization said.

“Foreign companies have contributed to Cuba's tourism sector for over 30 years, serving as an excellent training ground for local professionals. Because Cuban executives and staff have long managed operations alongside foreign directors, the entire local workforce, logistics framework, and service standards remain firmly in place.”

In regards to Visa and Mastercard no longer operating in Cuba, the tourist board says cash is currently the most convenient and widely accepted medium.

Accepted currencies include Canadian Dollars (CAD), US Dollars (USD), and Euros (EUR).

“Those who have visited Cuba in the past know that the use of credit cards was mainly limited to hotels, there has never been a widespread use of credit cards outside of the hotels and it always has been mostly a cash destination,” the tourist board said.

At least 11 airlines have suspended flights to Cuba in 2026 — including Air Canada, WestJet, Air Transat, LATAM Perú, Magnicharters, Air France, Iberia, Rossiya, Nordwind, and Turkish Airlines – with more than 1,700 flights cancelled in total.

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 destination.

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).

Canada is Cuba’s largest tourism market. According to Cuban statistics, roughly 754,000 Canadians visited the island in 2025, representing a 12.4 per cent decrease from the previous year.

The downturn has intensified in 2026, with international arrivals dropping 55.8 per cent between January and April compared with the same period in 2025.

Ongoing power shortages, frequent blackouts, supply constraints, and reduced flight connectivity have prompted many hotel operators to either shut down properties or consolidate guests into a smaller number of hotels.

Despite the challenges, Cuba is pushing forward.

“Cuba’s greatest assets—our pristine beaches, vibrant culture, and the unmatched warmth of our people – remain entirely unaffected by external pressures," said Galindo. "For over three decades, our local teams have worked alongside international partners to build a world-class service infrastructure.”

“Today, that local expertise is fully equipped to seamlessly manage our properties, protect every traveller's reservation, and deliver the exceptional hospitality that defines our destination.”

Don't miss a single travel story: subscribe to PAX today!  Click here to follow PAX on Facebook.