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The Canadian airline WestJet will resume its direct flights to the city of Cienfuegos starting December 10, 2025.
According to the official news portal Cubadebate, the company described the resumption of flights as a move aimed at "strengthening tourist ties between Canada and the Caribbean" and expanding the winter destination options for Canadian travelers.
The information was confirmed by Gihana Galindo Enríquez, recently appointed director of the Cuba Tourism Office in Toronto, who stated that the resumption is part of a broader strategy by the airline to strengthen air connectivity between Canada and various destinations in the Caribbean and Latin America.
According to the specialized portal Excelencias Cuba, the decision is part of the winter program 2025-2026 presented by WestJet in July, which includes 305 operational routes covering 62 destinations, an increase of 3% compared to the previous season.
The company aims to establish itself as the top choice for travelers seeking warm climates during the Northern Hemisphere winter.
Highlighted routes include the Toronto–Havana route, with two weekly flights until April 23, 2026, along with an increase in flights to Varadero, Cancún, and Samaná, three traditional destinations for Canadian tourism in the Caribbean.
The schedule also includes new connections to Costa Rica and Nicaragua, which expands the range of options for northern travelers seeking sun and beach during the cold months.
The executive vice president and commercial director of WestJet, John Weatherill, indicated that the expansion reflects the airline's commitment to its customers and its goal of "becoming the top choice for winter travelers."
Tickets for this schedule have been available since July 14, 2025, allowing for advance planning of trips to the new destinations.
In Cuba, WestJet's return to Cienfuegos, known as "the Pearl of the South," represents an opportunity to revive tourism in a region historically overlooked by international airlines, especially following the crisis in the sector caused by the pandemic and the economic downturn affecting the country.
However, experts warn that the success of these routes will depend on the local infrastructure, which has been affected by fuel shortages, the deterioration of services, and the logistical limitations faced by the island.
While the Cuban government celebrates the news as a sign of tourism recovery, independent operators point out that air connectivity will not be enough to attract visitors unless there is an improvement in the quality of hotel services, energy stability, and food security in tourist areas.
While airlines like WestJet move forward with expansion plans to Cuban destinations, other companies have made opposing decisions that reflect the uncertain context of air transportation in the region.
Delta Air Lines announced the suspension of its regular flights to Cuba, a decision that further limits connectivity with the United States and reflects the operational challenges faced by airlines on the island.
In that same vein, United Airlines suspended its route between Houston and Havana after reporting difficulties associated with the economic performance of the route and a sustained drop in demand for flights to Cuba from certain points in North America.
The trend is not exclusive to U.S. airlines. The Venezuelan airline Conviasa has also suspended its Caracas-Moscow route, highlighting the logistical tensions that airline operators are facing in an increasingly volatile international context, which directly impacts the redesign of flight schedules in Latin America and the Caribbean.
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