Sunwing Vacations Group is indefinitely suspending all its Cuba operations “until further notice.”
The vacation division of the broader WestJet Group announced Friday that it was shutting down its services following a review of its Cuba program and the “current operating environment.”
The notice said the change aligns with the company’s operations, which includes WestJet Airlines.
“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,” the notice said. ” Our thoughts are with those affected, and we remain hopeful for the destination’s recovery and long-term success.”
Guests who had existing bookings will be contacted directly to potentially rebook to an other destination or cancel for a full refund.
The notice said that Sunwing will continue to monitor events and update as information becomes available.
Other airlines previously suspended flights
Air Canada, WestJet and Air Transat all previously suspended its flights to Cuba in February amid a fuel shortage.
The decision left thousands of travellers in limbo as the airlines hurried to ferry flights to rescue people who were abruptly stranded.
Conditions in Cuba have continued to worsen over the past several months, with frequent blackouts and chronic oil shortages following a U.S. oil embargo that began in January.
With files from Marco Chown Oved, Anastasia Blosser and the Associated Press