TORONTO — The Canadian government has updated its Cuba travel advice, telling Canadians to avoid all non-essential travel to the island.
The heightened advisory comes as thousands of vacationers are on their way home on repatriation flights after Canada’s airlines and tour operators suspended their Cuba programs for the rest of the winter season.
As reported in the Toronto Star, Global Affairs Canada’s updated advisory comes amid worsening fuel shortages. After Cuba’s largest airport issued the NOTAM advising international airlines they would no longer be able to refuel at the island’s largest airports, Air Canada, WestJet Group and then Air Transat suspended their Cuba seasons and started repatriation flights. The flights are expected to wrap up by early next week.
“Avoid all non-essential travel to Cuba due to worsening shortages of fuel, electricity, and basic necessities including food, water, and medicine, which can also affect resorts. Fuel availability has decreased, is difficult to predict, and may disrupt ground transportation. As a result, all Canadian airlines have suspended service to Cuba for upcoming trips. Canadian airlines will facilitate the return of their clients currently in Cuba and are reaching out directly to them,” notes Global Affairs Canada’s posting. “Confirm your return flight details and avoid extending your stay in Cuba. If you do not have a return ticket, seek a commercial option to leave the country. Commercial flights remain available through international airlines; however, they may become limited on short notice.”
Global Affairs Canada also posted on social media: “We have changed the risk level for #Cuba to Avoid non-essential travel due to worsening shortages of fuel and basic necessities, and the suspension of service to Cuba by Canadian airlines. Check your flight and avoid extending your stay.”
Global Affairs Canada’s four levels of colour-coded travel advisories are: Normal precautions (Green); High degree of caution (Yellow); Avoid non-essential travel (Orange); and Avoid all travel (Red).
