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Travelers from Calgary and Edmonton, who arrived in Varadero seeking sun and relaxation, ended up facing a situation of tension and uncertainty in airports and hotels, fearing they would be caught in the midst of a new political and energy storm that is hitting the Cuban regime hard.
According to a report from the Calgary Herald, the accelerated reduction of fuel supplies has caused a sudden exodus of Canadians who decided to return home early. Airlines such as WestJet, Air Canada, and Air Transat announced the suspension of travel to Cuba while organizing special flights to repatriate thousands of passengers who were already in the country.
In some cases, companies even sent empty planes and relied on tanker aircraft to ensure fuel supply and be able to take off from Cuban airports.
“It's been like a show from one moment to the next,” said tourist Ashley Cardinal, a resident of Calgary, who had to be moved to another hotel after hers closed suddenly, in an interview with the Calgary Herald. The woman stated that she learned more details from Facebook groups than from the official information provided by agencies or airlines.
"We don't know what is going to happen," he said in a message that reflects the feelings of many travelers caught in uncertainty.
The situation has become so chaotic that some tourists have had to accept unexpected routes to return, with forced layovers in Montreal or Toronto before they can reach their hometowns.
"We are under extreme pressure."
Nervousness is not only felt at airports. In Varadero, five women from Edmonton told CityNews that their "dream" trip turned into a nightmare when news began to circulate about the suspension of flights.
"We're all under extreme pressure here, and no one knows what is going to happen," stated one of them, Aysanur Yener, from the resort where they were staying.
The uncertainty increased when they received emails from WestJet informing them that the group would be split up and each person would have to return by different routes, some even required to stay two days in Montreal before being able to complete the return trip.
"If our flight is canceled tonight, what are we going to do? Where are we going to stay? The expenses will keep rising. There's no food, no electricity, and we don't know Cuba," Yener lamented.
Her friend Hazime Gokce added that they were willing to pay for a taxi to get to the airport "if there is fuel."
Blackouts, chaos, and fear of the unpredictable
For its part, the Toronto Star confirmed that the major Canadian airlines made this decision following official warnings indicating that, starting February 10, aviation fuel might not be commercially available at Cuban airports.
Air Canada said it had around 3,000 customers in Cuba, while Air Transat estimated more than 6,500 passengers waiting for return flights. In total, it is estimated that about 10,000 Canadians could be affected by the situation.
A tourist named Brittney Culmone reported that the simple process of checking in to board turned into an odyssey due to the power outages.
"The power would cut out every 10 minutes and all the computers would restart," he told the Toronto Star.
Meanwhile, from Cayo Coco, another traveler described an atmosphere filled with tension. "There is a sadness in the air," she stated, aware that the crisis is hitting the Cubans much harder.
Although the immediate drama involves tourists trying to escape, the background reveals an even harsher reality for the residents of the island.
Ashley Cardinal confessed to the Calgary Herald that, before leaving, she decided to give away the Cuban money she had left to several locals, who thanked her with evident desperation.
"The locals are afraid of what is to come and emphasized how much they need the work to survive, especially in tourism, and that all the cancellations are really harming them," he said.
The tourist also expressed a strong statement that reflects the emotional state of many Cubans: “The people there want change, but with this, they could die of hunger.”
In CityNews, women from Edmonton reported that hotel employees told them they had been without electricity in their homes for weeks.
"They don't know what will happen to them, how they will return home, and they don't even know if they will have a job," they assured.
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