Ontario travellers tell their stories following mass cancellation of Cuba flights

It’s always a boost of serotonin knowing a great vacation is just around the corner. But for many Ontario residents hoping to relax on a beach in Cuba, those plans are now on hold. 

Ongoing fuel shortages on the island have forced airlines like Air Canada, WestJet, and Sunwing to cancel flights, leaving many travellers stuck or missing out on their planned trip.

Sila Taymaz had been counting down the days to her tropical getaway after what she describes as a “terrible” winter in Thunder Bay.

She tells blogTO she was scheduled to fly from her hometown to Toronto on Tuesday, followed by a connecting Sunwing flight to Varadero, Cuba. But within 24 hours of her initial departure, Taymaz says she was notified that her Varadero flight had been cancelled.

At first, Taymaz says Sunwing offered her a voucher to rebook at a later date at no additional cost. Just two hours later, the airline confirmed that all affected passengers would instead receive a full refund within 21 business days.

“I definitely felt deflated,” Taymaz says. “I’ve been to Varadero before, it’s beautiful. I was really looking forward to seeing Havana this time. Trips like this help get you through the long winters we have here.”

While disappointed, Taymaz says she’s aware that her situation pales in comparison to what many Cubans are facing. The ongoing fuel shortages have disrupted flights to the island, while the 11 million residents continue to grapple with limited access to food, water and medicine.

“I feel really bad for the Cuban people,” she says. “For me, this is a minor inconvenience. For them, it’s a sign that things are really difficult right now.”

Toronto resident Elizabeth Hill tells blogTO she had planned to travel to Jibacoa, Cuba, with her granddaughter and her boyfriend this Friday before their flights were abruptly cancelled.

“My disappointment is pretty small compared to the impact that this will have on the Cuban people,” she says. She’s been to the island many times and has a lot of friends living there.

Hill also happens to be the co-founder of the Canadian-Cuban Friendship Association Toronto (CCFA), a non-profit organization that sends aid to Cuba. She says the CCFA sends a container of essential supplies, including generators, to Cuba about once a month.

“Everything we raise is through events and donations, and containers cost between $7,000 and $9,000 [to ship], so that’s a huge accomplishment,” Hill says.

Tourism plays a vital role in Cuba’s economy, and Canada remains the island’s leading source of visitors. For example, in 2024, Cuba welcomed around 780,119 Canadian visitors, far more than any other country. 

Hill says the flight cancellations couldn’t have come at a worse time. March Break and Reading Week are usually peak travel periods, and many Cubans who work at resorts and in other tourism-related jobs depend on this season for income.

“It’s really hitting them at a very, very bad time,” she says.

Ahead of her trip, Taymaz tells blogTO she had already spent about $200 on hygiene products and other essentials to bring with her — items she knew were difficult to come by on the island.

“I had this big sack of hygiene supplies ready to go,” she says. “I knew they needed them.”

Now that her trip has been cancelled, Taymaz plans to donate the supplies to a local shelter in Thunder Bay instead.