Sunwing, via WestJet, to restart some Cuba departures on June 20

Sunwing Vacations and Vacances WestJet Québec plan to resume their Cuba operations, via WestJet, as of June 20, 2026, with packages to Varadero (VRA) and Cayo Coco (CCC) from Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City.

“All other Cuba destinations remain cancelled until November, and we continue to monitor the situation,” the tour operator wrote in a statement to PAX on Tuesday (March 17).

In response to Cuba’s fuel shortage, the WestJet Group began winding down its winter operations to the island in February, in a move that included WestJet, Sunwing Vacations, WestJet Vacations and Vacances WestJet Quebec.

According to Sunwing’s last travel advisory for Cuba, the suspension was initially in effect until April 25.  

However, growing uncertainty in Cuba has forced airlines and tour operators to delay the restart of their operations.

Air Transat, on Tuesday (March 17), revealed that it will postpone its return to Cuba until at least June 20, 2026.

The decision, shared in a memo to the trade, was made “due to the current fuel shortage in Cuba and the uncertainty around when operations will fully return to normal,” the company wrote.

Transat’s summer schedule has been adjusted accordingly and bookings affected by a change will receive a notification starting Thursday (March 19).

As previously reported, Air Canada has also 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.

READ MORE: “There continues to be steady demand”: Why some tour operators are still promoting Cuba

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 Cuba.

Hola Sun’s main connections to the island 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).

“There continues to be steady demand for travel related to visits with family members, close Cuban friends, divers, cyclists, and donation initiatives,” Hugo Rocha, general manager at Hola Sun Holidays in Toronto told PAX recently.

Sunwing’s update comes on the heels of Cuba suffering another power grid collapse this week.

Local authorities have restored power to much of the island, the Energy and Mines Ministry reported early Tuesday, just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump intensified his rhetoric against the communist-run nation, claiming he could take any action he wished regarding Cuba.

The blackout on Monday left roughly 10 million people without electricity, exacerbated by a U.S.-imposed oil embargo that has further strained the island's already outdated power infrastructure.

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