A 68-year-old Cuban woman finds herself stranded in Canada after Air Transat canceled her return flight to Havana. The cancellation comes amidst a fuel crisis in Cuba that has led to a widespread suspension of Canadian airline operations to the island.
The woman, Ivelise Lau, traveled to Canada in May to visit her daughter and meet her newborn grandchild. However, she now faces a dire situation as her visa and passport are set to expire on March 10, while her flight was originally scheduled for March 7. The cancellation leaves her on the brink of an irregular immigration status, with unpredictable legal consequences.
According to CTV News, Lau is currently residing in Longueuil, on Montreal's south shore, and describes herself as desperate due to the lack of immediate solutions.
"She's under a lot of stress," reported the outlet, highlighting that the issue extends beyond a mere schedule change. Lau must leave Canada before her documents expire, but options seem to be dwindling rapidly.
Her daughter, Ivette González, mentioned that the family sought assistance from the Cuban consulate, only to receive discouraging news. Renewing the passport could take up to four months, a timeline that Lau cannot afford. The consulate suggested traveling to Mexico as an option, but the family insists that this route is not feasible.
Amidst the uncertainty, they attempted to book a flight with Aeroméxico but encountered another immigration hurdle: they were informed that a passport must be valid for at least six months to travel.
"We don't want to break the law. We just need a way out," González stated. "But it seems like no one is willing to help us."
Lau's predicament unfolds against the backdrop of widespread flight suspensions between Canada and Cuba due to a shortage of aviation fuel at Cuban airports. This crisis has disrupted the plans of thousands of travelers and highlights the logistical and energy collapse under Cuba's communist regime.
Air Canada announced an immediate suspension of flights to Cuba after receiving official warnings about unreliable fuel supply. The airline noted that from February 10, commercial fuel would be unavailable at Cuban airports and began organizing empty flights to repatriate approximately 3,000 Canadian customers stranded on the island.
WestJet soon followed suit, halting all operations, while Air Transat confirmed it would cancel all flights to Cuba through April 30, impacting thousands of passengers and leaving many Cubans in precarious positions, particularly those with temporary immigration status in Canada.
For Cubans traveling with visitor visas, temporary permits, or soon-to-expire passports, a flight cancellation can become a nightmare. It means being stuck outside of Cuba with unexpected expenses, family distress, and the genuine risk of losing immigration status, complicating future travel or permit applications.
Meanwhile, the Canadian government has updated its travel advisory, raising the alert level and advising against non-essential travel to the island due to deteriorating basic services, fuel shortages, and prolonged power outages.
Impact of Cuba's Fuel Crisis on Travelers
Why was Ivelise Lau's flight canceled?
Ivelise Lau's flight was canceled due to a fuel crisis in Cuba, which has led to the suspension of many Canadian airline operations to the island.
What are the potential consequences of Lau's situation?
Lau faces the risk of an irregular immigration status if she cannot leave Canada before her visa and passport expire, which could lead to legal complications and future travel difficulties.
How has the Canadian government responded to the situation in Cuba?
The Canadian government has issued a travel advisory, raising the alert level and advising against non-essential travel to Cuba due to the deteriorating conditions caused by the fuel crisis.