aIR CANADA & CUBA: 1)Canadians returning from Cuba amid energy crisis due to U.S. oil blockade; 2)(Updated) Canadian airlines suspend flights to Cuba amid aviation fuel shortage; 3)original article: Air Canada suspends flights to Cuba amid aviation fuel shortage

1) Canadians returning from Cuba amid energy crisis due to U.S. oil blockade

Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press

By Lyndsay Armstrong and Sharif Hassan, February 11, 2026

Ryan Profid was enjoying a karaoke night at a resort near Cayo Coco in Cuba when he was approached by a staff member who had some bad news.

They told him his vacation was over and he’d have to fly home the next day.

Hours later, a disappointed Profid emerged from the arrivals gate at Halifax’s Stanfield International Airport after his WestJet flight had landed on Wednesday afternoon.

“I’m upset, but still happy to be home regardless,” said Profid, who is from Hubbards, N.S. “Hopefully, I can get to go back, I really like the Cuban people and want to support them.”

Profid is among a number of Canadians affected by a crisis in Cuba as major airlines from Canada have suspended commercial flights to the country because of aviation fuel shortages at airports on the island.

The Trump administration is cutting Cuba off from using traditional fuel sources in an effort to put pressure on the Caribbean nation, which has long been under strict economic sanctions imposed by Washington.

“It’s all affecting the locals a lot more, obviously, than people on the resort,” Profid told The Canadian Press. “It’s just a sin this is happening to them.”

And while Profid’s vacation was cut short, many passengers on his plane returned home on their originally scheduled day.

Carolyn and Eric Wissmann from Parrsboro, N.S., were in Cuba for two weeks and left Wednesday as planned.

“Our rep at the hotel said we’re doing this in an orderly fashion and everyone will get home,” Carolyn said.

“I know they kept closing resorts,” said Andrew Garnau, who is from the Annapolis Valley. “But we never saw any shortages of anything down there … for us it was business as usual. And then at karaoke they tell us we’ve got to go.”

Calgary-based WestJet said its decision to wind down winter operations will also affect flights on Sunwing, a company it fully integrated into its operations in 2025. The airline said in a statement Wednesday that it continues to “make progress” toward its goal of repatriating Canadian customers in Cuba by Feb. 17.

“To support this requirement, several originally scheduled flights have been adjusted or cancelled, and are now consolidated through Toronto,” WestJet said. “These changes allow us to maintain safe operations while ensuring we can return guests to Canada as quickly and reliably as possible.”

Air Canada and Air Transat have also suspended flights to Cuba because of the unreliability of aviation fuel at airports, and have said they are working on repatriating travellers.

Profid said the staff at the resort expressed uncertainty and worry about what the next few weeks will hold. He said their Sunwing representative at the resort told them they didn’t know if they’d have a job by next week.

Meanwhile, Simon Pont and his wife Laura Pont from the Halifax area said they had an amazing week in Cayo Coco and a routine flight home.

“The staff were amazing. We’ve left with a profound sense of sadness, because when we leave they have no job. And that makes me incredibly sad, and they put a brave face on,” Simon Pont said. “WestJet or Sunwing did exactly as expected and here we are home safe.”

Two flights from Cuba also landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport Wednesday afternoon.

Dave Quealey, who arrived on an Air Canada flight after spending a week on the island, said he had mixed feelings about returning home.

“It was wonderful being there, but it’s nice to be back home,” he said, adding that he has visited Cuba 30 times since 1997 because he loves its people and beaches.

Quealey said the mood was grim among the locals, who are worried about what comes next.

“They’re scared about what the future holds, but they’re also resilient people and they know they’re going to get through whatever happens,” he said, adding he hopes the situation will change “for the better for the Cuban people.”

Karin Seelen, who returned on the same flight, said she had an emotional goodbye when she left her hotel.

“I was already crying this morning, so I don’t want to think about it, but yeah, there’s unrest there for sure.”

She said hotel staff were working seven days straight because they couldn’t go home due to the fuel shortage. Despite the uncertainty, they were “more than accommodating,” she said.

“This morning, they were at the front lobby waiting for us to send us off with a wonderful party,” she said. “They were dancing, gave us all a nice drink to salute us and thank us for being there.”

June and John Salverda returned Wednesday from their 11th visit to Cuba, which they said was one of the few places where they felt safe. Rising tensions in Cuba mean Canadians have fewer vacation options, they said.

“I am sad for the people there,” June said. “It’s just too bad that travel business for them is gone now because nobody’s flying (anymore).”

June said several resorts were amalgamated together to save energy during the couple’s stay. She said she saw the hotel staff crying because they fear losing their jobs.

The couple said the Canadian government should provide more support to the Cuban people during these difficult times.

“They really are in desperate need,” June said.

2)(Updated) Canadian airlines suspend flights to Cuba amid aviation fuel shortage

Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press

By Sidhartha Banerjee, February 10, 2026

Major Canadian airlines have suspended service to Cuba as the Caribbean country faces a worsening energy crisis amid a U.S. blockade of oil.

Air Canada, WestJet and Air Transat each said on Monday that they were cancelling flights to Cuba, citing a shortage of aviation fuel.

All three airlines said they had plans to bring travellers home to Canada.

Air Canada said it made the decision “following advisories issued by governments regarding the unreliability of the aviation fuel supply at Cuban airports,” adding that it would dispatch empty flights southbound to pick up about 3,000 travellers to bring them home.

“It is projected that as of Feb. 10 aviation fuel will not be commercially available at the island’s airports,” Air Canada said in a news release.

WestJet followed suit later Monday after initially saying it intended to continue flights as planned, announcing it had suspended sales for service to Cuba and cancelled scheduled trips.

The airline said the decision would affect WestJet, Sunwing Vacations, WestJet Vacations and Vacances WestJet Québec.

Air Transat also initially said its flights would operate as scheduled but reversed course Monday evening.

“We are currently organizing a return plan to Canada, which includes regular flights as well as additional repatriation flights,” it said in a notice on its website.

Cuba is rationing energy as the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump cuts the island off from its traditional fuel sources. Trump is seeking to isolate Cuba and further ramp up the pressure on the country, a longtime adversary under strict economic sanctions from Washington.

Trump has said the Cuban government is ready to fall, and that the island would receive no more oil shipments from Venezuela after a U.S. military operation deposed former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro.

Last month, Trump signed an executive order allowing for tariffs on goods from countries that sell or provide oil to Cuba.

The Canadian government upgraded its travel advisory on Feb. 4 for Cuba, urging travellers to “exercise a high degree of caution” because of worsening shortages of electricity, fuel and basic needs like food, water and medicine.

“The situation is unpredictable and could deteriorate, disrupting flight availability on short notice,” Global Affairs Canada warned.

Air Transat said it was suspending all flights to Cuba until April 30. Air Canada and WestJet did not say when they would resume flights, only that they would continue monitoring the situation.

Air Canada had initially offered a flexible rebooking offer for those travelling to Cuba. Air Canada Vacations, the tour operating arm of the airline, is introducing a refund policy for those with scheduled departures.

For the returning flights from Cuba, “Air Canada will tanker in extra fuel and make a technical stop as necessary to refuel on the return journey if necessary,” the airline said. Those return flights are expected in the coming days.

Air Transat said bookings to Cuba between Wednesday and the end of April would be automatically cancelled and refunds issued.

WestJet, which acquired Sunwing in 2025, said it has activated flexible policies to allow travellers to adjust their plans without penalty.

“All flights will carry sufficient fuel to ensure a safe departure without relying on local fuel availability,” the airline said in an update on its website.

“At this time, there are no safety or security concerns for our guests who remain in Cuba.”

Martin Firestone, president of Toronto-based insurance brokerage firm Travel Secure Inc., said travellers with non-refundable trips to Cuba should consider purchasing cancellation or interruption insurance while they still can.

“I am getting many calls from people (asking), ‘can I buy cancellation if I buy this trip to Cuba’ and the answer is yes, still at this point. I can’t imagine how much longer the insurers will stay on board with this because really once something becomes a known cause it’s typically stopped or at least the offer is off the table,” Firestone said.

Last week, certain hotels were shuttered on parts of the island, with tourists transferred to resorts with higher occupancies. Earlier this month, the Cuba Tourist Board of Canada, which represents the country and is based in Toronto, said resorts were operating normally and food, fuel and supplies had been secured ahead of the peak season.

Moscou Côté, president of the Quebec Association of Travel Agents, said despite the difficulties, the level of service is on par with what travellers have experienced post-COVID-19 pandemic in Cuba.

“Overall we go to Cuba for the price and the price is still very attractive to Cuba,” he said.

There have been moments in the past where Cuban airports have seen a run on aviation fuel, requiring flights to make a stop in the Bahamas on the return home, he said.

“You have to understand that tour operators like Transat, Air Canada and Sunwing have been dealing with Cuba for over 30 years,” Côté said. “So they are used to these kinds of operational headaches.”

However, one commercial pilot told The Associated Press on Monday that while refuelling issues have occurred before, a situation of this scale is extraordinary even for an island accustomed to perpetual crisis.

Still, Côté said anyone looking to book a trip going to the island should wait a little bit.

“We’ll have a good idea in the next couple of days how the situation is managed and what to expect,” he said. “So I would think it might be a good idea to wait a couple of days, you know, just to make sure everything is properly addressed.”

— with files from The Associated Press

3)Original article: Air Canada suspends flights to Cuba amid aviation fuel shortage

Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press

By Sidhartha Banerjee, February 9th, 2026

Air Canada is suspending service to Cuba because of a shortage of aviation fuel on the island, saying it will send empty flights southbound to pick up about 3,000 travellers to bring them home.

In a news release, the airline said it took the decision “following advisories issued by governments regarding the unreliability of the aviation fuel supply at Cuban airports,” adding that its flight suspensions take effect Monday.

“It is projected that as of Feb. 10 aviation fuel will not be commercially available at the island’s airports.”

Other Canadian airlines — Air Transat and WestJet — both say they intend to continue flights as planned despite the fuel shortage.

Cuba has been facing a worsening energy crisis amid a U.S. blockade of oil to the island.

Air Canada said it has been following the situation closely and had initially introduced a flexible rebooking offer for those travelling to Cuba. Air Canada Vacations, the tour operating arm of the airline, is introducing a refund policy for those with scheduled departures.

For the returning flights from Cuba, “Air Canada will tanker in extra fuel and make a technical stop as necessary to refuel on the return journey if necessary,” the airline said.

Marie-Ève Vallières, spokesperson for Air Transat, said Cuban authorities had warned the airline about “a temporary suspension of kerosene supply at airports across the country.”

“We expect to operate our flights as scheduled by implementing contingency measures, such as a technical stop when necessary.”

Air Transat said it has issued a flexibility policy for travellers with upcoming trips to Cuba.

WestJet, which acquired Sunwing in 2025, said it has also activated flexible policies to allow travellers to adjust their plans without penalty. “Our focus continues to remain on the safety of our guests and our WestJetters,” the airline said in a statement. 

“It is also important to note that all WestJet flights arrive in Cuba with sufficient fuel to safely depart Cuba.”