Air Canada suspending service to Cuba due to fuel shortage
· Toronto Sun
Air Canada said it is suspending service to Cuba effective immediately due to a fuel shortage on the island.
Visit chickenroadslot.pro for more information.
Air Canada made the decision after the Cuban government said aviation fuel would not be available at Cuban airports as of Tuesday.
It said in a news release that its top priority is to bring some 3,000 customers in Cuba back to Canada, adding that it will send ferry flights to the island in the near term to collect them.
“It will operate empty ferry flights to the island over the coming days to maintain its regular schedule from Cuba to Canada over the near-term to pick up these customers,” Air Canada added.
Refunds offered
Air Canada Vacations is introducing a refund policy for customers who had flights booked to Cuba that are now cancelled.
Air Transat and WestJet both say they intend to continue flights as planned despite the fuel announcement.
Air Transat told Global News that it will “operate flights as scheduled by implementing contingency measures.”
“We have been informed by Cuban authorities of a temporary suspension of kerosene supply at airports across the country. Despite this situation, which is beyond our control, we expect to operate our flights as scheduled by implementing contingency measures, such as a technical stop when necessary,” Air Transat said.
The airline said for those departing up to Feb. 28 on Air Transat, date or destination changes are permitted without penalty, or a full refund will be issued. For departures between March 1 and April 30, date or destination changes are permitted without penalty, with a travel credit issued for the value of the original booking.
Flight review
Air Canada says it will not fly to Holguín and Santa Clara for the rest of the season, and will review restarting flights to Varadero and Cayo Coco on May 1.
“ At present, seasonal flights to Holguín and Santa Clara are cancelled for the rest of the season. Flights to Varadero and Cayo Coco are schedule to operate year-round but are currently suspended with a tentative restart, pending review, on May 1,” the Air Canada news release said.
Cuba blames Trump
The Cuban government said international airlines can no longer refuel there due to fuel shortages after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened trade tariffs on any country that supplies the communist country with oil.
Trump has sought to tighten the U.S. chokehold on Cuba since Jan. 3, when the U.S. conducted a military operation to capture deposed Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, a longtime ally of Cuba’s government.
Trump, in a January executive order, said the Cuban government constituted “an unusual and extraordinary threat,” which required a national emergency declaration.
The president said Cuba’s ties to China, Russia and Iran, along with its human rights violations and communist leadership are destabilizing the region “through migration and violence.”
Russia: Situation ‘critical’
Cuban ally Russia said Monday that the fuel situation there was “truly critical” and that U.S. attempts to further pressure the country were making matters worse.
“The situation in Cuba is truly critical. We know this. We are in intensive contact with our Cuban friends through diplomatic and other channels. Indeed, let’s say the U.S.’s stranglehold is causing many difficulties for the country,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on state media.