Sunwing Issues Cuba Travel Alerts as Canadian Carriers Keep Flexible Policies

Sunwing updated its travel alerts page with a Cuba advisory that expands change and cancellation flexibility for trips through February 25, and the operator’s late‑February/early‑March notices show cancellation and flexibility messages tied to ongoing operational disruptions. Sunwing, now owned by the WestJet Group and the largest Canadian tour operator to Cuba, earlier said, “We are closely monitoring the situation in Cuba and will continue to follow the direction of the Canadian government.”

Operational disruption on the island has been acute: several hotels have closed and guests have been moved to other properties, widespread power outages affected Varadero, Holguín and Cayo Coco, and the Cuban government warned the nation will run out of aviation fuel “from today,” with shortages expected to persist for at least the next month. The Cuban Aviation Corporation published a brief statement after a NOTAM, saying, “We continue working tirelessly to ensure the safety, fluidity and order of the airspace, supporting airline operations and ensuring that aviation in Cuba maintains the levels of reliability that characterize us,” without mentioning the fuel shortage.

Airlines and tour arms have issued differing relief rules. Air Canada cancelled seasonal flights to Holguín and Santa Clara for the rest of the season, suspended flights to Varadero and Cayo Coco with a tentative restart on May 1, and said it may tanker extra fuel and make technical stops as necessary on return journeys. Air Canada Vacations set a specific booking window and options: “Customers who have purchased a travel package to Cuba that includes an Air Canada or Air Canada Rouge flight on or before Feb. 5, 2026, for travel dates between Feb. 6 and Feb. 25, 2026, can modify their booking without incurring change fees and rebook for an alternate travel plan.” The Vacations arm added that customers can “change their travel date. To request this option, please call us at 1-877-752-7710,” or “opt for a Future Travel Credit for the full amount, valid for 1 year.”

WestJet posted an advisory offering options for flights to and from Cuba from Sunday to Feb. 26, 2026 and moved to wind down winter operations to the island “as of Monday,” with plans to resume service April 26; related brands including Sunwing Vacations, WestJet Vacations and Vacances WestJet Quebec are included in the operational pause. WestJet Vacations clients face a reported $200 per person “hotel penalty” when changing or cancelling Cuba packages under that advisory.

Transat’s commercial team told travel advisors that for any file with an arrival date between Feb. 7 and April 30, 2026, at a hotel affected by a temporary closure, travellers “may change the date, hotel or destination without penalty.” These differing windows and penalties mean the policy that applies will depend on the product booked - airline ticket versus tour package - and on purchase and travel dates.

With the Cuban government warning aviation fuel could run out and hotel closures already displacing guests, travellers booked to Cuba should confirm the exact advisory language that applies to their reservation, check the operator’s stated travel‑date windows and penalty rules, and contact their travel advisor or the carrier’s local representative for next steps.