Sunwing Vacations - Hurricane Irma Update

TORONTO, Sept. 8, 2017 /CNW/ - Sunwing continues to closely monitor Hurricane Irma and remains in regular contact with local representatives in affected destinations regarding the potential impact of the storm. Since September 1^st, the company has sent 27 flights to repatriate customers from destinations under hurricane watch or warning. Local representatives have been working diligently to keep in regular contact with customers vacationing in these destinations, and assisting them with making the necessary changes to their travel arrangements.

Here follows a summary of the latest on operations in affected destinations:

• Dominican Republic – The hurricane warning has been lifted. Services to both Puerto Plata and Punta Cana will operate as scheduled.
  
  
• Cuba – A hurricane watch and warning is in place. Due to airport closures, customers staying in Cayo Coco and Cayo Santa Maria were evacuated by land to Varadero September 7^th and were overnighted in all inclusive hotels. Customers that were scheduled to return to Canada from Cayo Coco or Cayo Santa Maria on September 9^th or 10^th were transferred by bus , September 7^th, to alternative all inclusive hotels in Varadero. Special flights are operating from Varadero today, September 8^th, to bring those passengers home early. Special flights have been added from Havana, Saturday September 9^th to return customers due to travel from Varadero September 9^th – 13^th.  All southbound flights to Cayo Santa Maria, Cayo Coco, Camaguey and Holguin have been cancelled between September 6^th and 10^th. All southbound flights to Varadero have been cancelled for September 9^th. Flights to Varadero September 10^th are currently operating as scheduled however customers have the option to rebook or change destination should they wish.
  
  
• The Islands of the Bahamas - The southbound flight to Freeport, Grand Bahama scheduled to operate September 9^th has been cancelled. A special flight operated September 7^th to bring customers in destination home early.
   
  
• Florida - Southbound flights to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale due to operate September 9^th have been cancelled. A special rescue flight was added September 8^th, to bring customers home early from both destinations, including passengers on MSC Divina that docked earlier than scheduled in Miami on September 7^th to avoid the hurricane.
  
  

Passengers due to travel between September 6^th and 10^th to the affected destinations and have been impacted by these schedule changes have the option to rebook or change destination as per the flexible policies put in place during this extreme weather event. 

All new flight times are being posted at http://www.sunwing.ca/arrdepinfo.asp as they become available.

About Sunwing

As the #1 to the sun and North America's largest vertically integrated travel company, Sunwing has more flights to the south than any other leisure carrier with convenient direct service from over 34 airports across Canada to over 50 popular sun destinations. This scale enables Sunwing to negotiate the best deals and exclusive offers at all of the top-rated resorts across the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. Renowned for its award-winning service, Sunwing is consistently voted the #1 leisure airline by travel agents and is the perennial winner of the Consumer Choice Award. Customers can look forward to starting their vacation off in style with award-winning inflight service, which features a complimentary glass of sparkling wine, tea and coffee and non-alcoholic beverage service; together with a buy on board menu of light meals and snacks (including kids' choices) inspired by Food Network Canada Celebrity Chef, Lynn Crawford. Sunwing customers also benefit from the assistance of the company's own knowledgeable destination representatives, who greet them upon arrival and support them throughout their vacation journey.

*on board service varies dependent on destination

SOURCE Sunwing Vacations Inc.