Waiting and watching in Cuba

As he basked in the sunshine in Varadero, Cuba, on Monday, it was hard for Manitoban Geof Langen to imagine anything might interrupt his vacation — but when news broke that Air Canada had cancelled international flights to the island nation, it gave him pause.

“It’s kind of been the talk of today amongst Canadians. We’re a pretty large group down here, and everyone right now seems pretty calm,” Langen said by phone.

“Mostly, we’re enjoying Cuba and the incredibly gracious and hospitable people and great weather. It hasn’t at this point brought a damper or a sense of concern, beyond just paying attention to what’s going on.”

Air Canada decided to suspend service to Cuba days after Langen arrived in Varadero aboard a WestJet flight late Saturday. He and his partner are staying at a resort with friends, and were expecting a third couple from Manitoba to join them on Monday.

That couple flew from Winnipeg to Toronto on Sunday night in anticipation of an early morning flight on Air Canada, but after touching down in Ontario, they were informed their travel plans had been cancelled, Langen said.

In a news release, Air Canada announced it halted flights due to the ongoing shortage of aviation fuel on the island, saying current projections will exhaust the supply of commercial fuel by Feb. 10.

Global Affairs Canada issued a travel advisory on Feb. 4, warning the country was experiencing a shortage of electricity, fuel, food, water and medicine.

“The situation is unpredictable and could deteriorate, disrupting flight availability on short notice,” the notice said.

Other Canadian airlines — Air Transat and WestJet — told The Canadian Press they intend to continue flights as planned, but it is unclear whether that commitment will change.

Chandel Bailey-Morrison was supposed to fly from Winnipeg to Varadero on Wednesday morning aboard a WestJet flight, but said the airline sent her an email around 4 p.m. to inform her the flight had been cancelled.

The message said WestJet was working to arrange an alternative flight, but Bailey-Morrison is skeptical.

“I’m panicking,” she said. “It’s our second time going down there. We were there last year around the same time and we met a family, and were supposed to be bringing some anti-seizure medications for their little boy.”

Bailey-Morrison, who is a nurse, said she planned the trip with her wife and two young daughters more than nine months ago.

They spent the weekend packing their luggage, including four additional suitcases filled with medical supplies, clothes and other basic necessities they intended to give to Cubans.

“It became more of a mission than a vacation,” she said. “My heart breaks for all of those people there.”

As of 6 p.m. Monday, the WestJet website showed no departing flights to Cuba scheduled for the rest of February or March. The next available flight was listed as April 27.

Langen said he is confident he will be able to return as planned on Sunday, and he has not noticed any sense of panic among fellow Canadian travellers.

“This is one airline that is making a decision,” he said about Air Canada. “I’m not clear yet that other international airlines have pulled the plug yet either, so there is a part of me that says, ‘Lets just give this a little bit of time.’”

Although Langen has experienced no shortages of electricity or amenities on the resort, it is clear conditions have worsened elsewhere in the country, he said.

“There’s no question this is a tough time for Cuba,” Langen said.

“As someone who is a tourist here, I recognize the value that industry brings to Cuba and the fact that our dollars are important to the Cuban people, but at the same time, I recognize that they are making tourists comfortable while Cuban citizens are experiencing some significant challenges.”

Langen credited the Cuban people for their resilience, calling them “incredibly warm and welcoming.”

Before departing from Canada, Langen packed his bag with extra medicine, batteries and toys to give to Cubans. He said many other Canadians did the same.

“Cuba has experienced lots of challenges over the last 60 years, and this isn’t the first time they’ve gone through a tightening of restrictions and the challenges that come with that,” Langen said.

“I’m worried that folks at home are suddenly scratching Cuba off of their destination lists… (but) it is a worthwhile travel destination, and you’re doing a good thing by coming.”

—With files from The Canadian Press

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca