Canada’s airlines and tour operators have posted new updates for Jamaica and Cuba in the wake of Hurricane Melissa.

An Oct. 30 update from the Jamaica Tourist Board notes that Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) and Ian Fleming International Airport (IFIA) reopened Oct. 29 for relief and emergency flights. On Oct. 30, Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay reopened for relief and emergency flights. Also on Oct. 30, commercial flights and general aviation restarted at NMIA and IFIA.

The JTB’s FAQ page is here.

Air Canada continues to offer its flexible rebooking policy for Kingston and Montego Bay through Nov. 4. Air Canada’s travel advisory page is here.

Meanwhile ACV’s site has been updated with the following message: “Please be advised that leisure travel to Jamaica has been temporarily suspended due to Hurricane Melissa. Your safety and well-being are our top priorities, so if you are booked to travel to Jamaica between now and November 15, 2025, an Air Canada Vacations Representative will be in contact with you prior to your original travel date to explore other options that are available to you such as alternate travel dates, a change in destination or a future travel credit.”

ACV is operating a return flight home for ACV travellers in-destination, departing from Kingston today, Oct. 31, on flight AC2165.

“For existing Group bookings, please contact your Groups Coordinator. If you booked with a travel agent, please contact them directly. Air Canada Vacations will continue to monitor the situation closely and will communicate further updates as they become available,” says ACV at its site.

WestJet has also updated its information for Jamaica travellers. “Due to the impact of Hurricane Melissa, Montego Bay Airport (MBJ) will be closed until Sunday, November 2 at 5 p.m. ET. Recovery flights from Kingston (KIN) are available for impacted guests. WestJet will continue to evaluate and implement additional recovery flights as necessary, once it is safe to resume operations.” WestJet travellers who are scheduled to travel from MBJ and would like to depart from Kingston are asked to contact the airline. WestJet has also triggered its flexible rebooking policy for MBJ and KIN through Nov. 9, and for Holguin, Cuba through Nov. 5, and Providenciales through Nov. 1. WestJet’s site is here.

Transat’s flexible rebooking policy applies to MBJ through Nov. 4, and Holguin through Nov. 1. More details about TS cancellations is here.

Jamaica and Cuba travel information updated Oct. 30 for Sunwing Vacations passengers can be found here.

Ottawa Pledges $7 Million in Aid

The Canadian government has announced $7 million in humanitarian relief for Caribbean states hit by Hurricane Melissa — and the government says it might deploy soldiers if asked.

“Canada stands with the people of the Caribbean in its efforts at this moment, not with words but with action,” Randeep Sarai, secretary of state for international development, told reporters yesterday on Parliament Hill.

“And we’ll be here tomorrow to help rebuild stronger, safer and more resilient communities.”

The department said its Havana embassy had not received requests for help from Canadians in Cuba, while the high commission in Jamaica is “inaccessible” but operating remotely.

Two members of the department’s rapid deployment team arrived yesterday in Kingston, and three more are set to arrive today, to provide emergency consular services and logistical support to Canadian diplomats.

Sarai said $5 million of the new funding will go to life-saving help through emergency response agencies and health providers, adding that Global Affairs Canada is still identifying the receiving countries and organizations.

The other $2 million will go to the World Food Programme to support its efforts to distribute food and other supplies to Jamaica.

Sarai said Canada is prepared to deploy relief supplies from its emergency stockpile through the Red Cross, if countries request that help.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand added Canada might send military help if it’s requested.

“At this moment, the request from Jamaica has been for humanitarian aid. That is what we are stepping up to provide. There has been no request for the Canadian Armed Forces at this time,” she said. “We of course are standing ready 24-7 to assist in ways that are requested.”

She said Canada’s priority is to ensure aid is distributed “as rapidly as possible but also in a way that is reliable.”

Ottawa has funded programs meant to help countries like Jamaica cope with natural disasters through emergency planning and logistics.

Canada is also part of a multi-year effort aimed at reforming global financial institutions, such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, so that Caribbean countries can pay for climate-resilient infrastructure.

As reported yesterday, the Jamaica government’s Hurricane Melissa relief site, supportjamaica.gov.jm, is accepting donations plus there are drop-off spots in Toronto, the GTA and Montreal.

With file from The Canadian Press