Westjet Resumes Its Direct Flights To Cienfuegos, Cuba Starting From December Of This Year, Strengthening Canada-cuba Tourism Ties

Published on November 2, 2025

WestJet will restart nonstop flights to Cienfuegos, Cuba, starting December 10, 2025, arsenic portion of a large measurement successful strengthening tourism relations betwixt Canada and nan Caribbean. This is portion of their wide array of plans for improved wintertime recreation choices done nan description of destination options for Canadians during nan acold months. Demonstrating WestJet’s committedness to expanding connectivity by aerial betwixt Canada and cardinal destinations wrong nan Caribbean and Latin America, further opportunities for Canadians will beryllium opened up during winter, erstwhile going to warmer destinations becomes very appealing.

Strengthening Tourism Links Between Canada and nan Caribbean

The Cuba Tourism Office successful Toronto, led by Gihana Galindo Enríquez, confirmed nan return of WestJet to Cienfuegos arsenic portion of a larger inaugural to boost tourism successful nan Caribbean. The resumption of nonstop flights to Cienfuegos, often referred to arsenic “the Pearl of nan South”, represents a measurement toward reviving tourism successful this historically underconnected region. The flights will let Canadians to research a less-visited area of Cuba, which is known for its scenic beauty, assemblage architecture, and proximity to Caribbean beaches.

According to Cubadebate, this description is besides aimed astatine giving Canadian travelers much winter picnic options, pinch Cienfuegos now portion of WestJet’s broader Caribbean description strategy for nan wintertime play of 2025-2026. This includes expanded routes to Havana, Varadero, Cancún, and Samaná, each of which are apical destinations for Canadian tourists.

WestJet’s Winter 2025-2026 Program

WestJet’s move to resume flights to Cienfuegos is portion of its broader winter 2025-2026 program, which was outlined successful July. The airline’s global wintertime network now covers 305 operational routes crossed 62 destinations, marking a 3% increase compared to nan erstwhile wintertime season. This maturation aligns pinch WestJet’s strategic goal of becoming nan leading hose for wintertime travelers seeking sunny destinations successful nan Northern Hemisphere.

Notably, nan Toronto-Havana way will spot two play flights operating until April 23, 2026, on pinch an increased wave of flights to Varadero and Cancún—both of which person agelong been favorites for Canadian tourists. The hose is besides expanding its beingness successful Central America pinch caller routes to Costa Rica and Nicaragua, enhancing options for those seeking sun, sand, and escapade successful Latin America during nan wintertime months.

Challenges successful Cuban Tourism Infrastructure

While nan return of WestJet to Cienfuegos is seen arsenic a positive development for Cuban tourism, location are concerns regarding nan local infrastructure. Experts pass that Cuba’s tourism recovery will not beryllium solely limited connected aerial connectivity. The local services successful tourer areas, peculiarly hotel quality, energy stability, and food security, request important betterment to guarantee nan success of caller routes.

The Cuban authorities has welcomed nan return of WestJet arsenic a motion that nan tourism sector is gradually recovering from nan impacts of nan pandemic and nan economic downturn that has plagued nan country. However, independent tourism operators be aware that without improvements to nan overall tourer experience, attracting a important number of visitors will stay a challenge. Visitors whitethorn beryllium deterred unless they spot tangible improvements successful nan quality of services, energy reliability, and food supplies successful Cuban tourer areas.

Contrasting Airline Trends successful nan Region

While WestJet is expanding its scope to Cuba, different airlines are facing operational challenges. Delta Air Lines precocious announced nan suspension of its regular flights to Cuba, citing operational difficulties and a decline successful demand for Cuba-bound flights from nan United States. This determination reflects a broader inclination successful nan region, wherever airlines are grappling pinch logistical constraints, fluctuating demand, and economic instability.

Similarly, United Airlines has suspended its Houston-Havana way aft experiencing economic challenges related to nan route’s financial performance and a continued drop successful demand for Cuba-bound flights. The suspension further limits connectivity betwixt nan United States and Cuba, raising concerns astir nan stableness of air travel to nan island.

The Venezuelan airline Conviasa besides faced challenges, suspending its Caracas-Moscow route, a move that highlights nan turbulent landscape for world aerial recreation successful Latin America and nan Caribbean. The inclination is symptomatic of a volatile world aerial carrier market, which is influencing really airlines scheme and run their routes.

WestJet’s Vision for Winter Travel successful 2025-2026

Despite nan challenges successful nan region, WestJet remains optimistic astir its description into nan Caribbean and Latin America for nan 2025-2026 wintertime season. The airline’s Executive Vice President and Commercial Director, John Weatherill, reiterated that nan company’s strategy is focused connected becoming nan preferred airline for travelers seeking warm destinations during nan Northern Hemisphere winter.

WestJet’s attraction connected new markets and expanded work to existing Caribbean hotspots underlines its committedness to offering affordable, convenient recreation options for Canadian tourists. The hose has already made tickets for nan new routes disposable since July 14, 2025, enabling travelers to scheme their trips successful beforehand to Cienfuegos and different sunny destinations.

Looking Ahead: WestJet’s Role successful Strengthening Caribbean Connectivity

This is each portion of WestJet’s greater strategy to heighten connectivity betwixt Canada and important Caribbean destinations. With this, nan hose will proceed its way description into Cuba and elsewhere, offering moreover much options for Canadians looking for wintertime sun and playing an important domiciled successful rebuilding tourism successful nan Caribbean. Whether these routes will beryllium their viability successful nan longer word depends connected sustained demand, betterment successful section infrastructure, and whether accordant work tin beryllium maintained contempt location challenges.