Sydney to Get Nonstop Flights to Cuba

For the first time in six years, a charter airline will offer direct flights from Canada´s Sydney to Cuba´s sunny south next spring.

Sunwing Vacations is expanding its market in Atlantic Canada with flights from seven cities in the region bound for resorts in warmer climates.

From March to the end of May, the company will take travelers from Sydney straight to the Holguin area in Cuba.

Sunwing spokeswoman Martha Chapman said the company is going after the smaller centers, “where we know there is good demographics and a good demand for southern product.”

“This has been in the rumor mill for awhile,” said CEO Larry MacPherson, calling the announcement a big boost for the airport.

There hasn´t been a direct flight south out of Sydney since 2001, when Canada 3000 went out of business.

Sunwing says the flights to Cuba will mean some money for the Cape Breton economy. Between marketing, promotion and airport fees, the company says the Cuba flights should generate about $500,000 locally.