REGINA — Puerto Vallarta, Mexico is the latest sun destination to see flight cancellations directly impacting Saskatchewan airports.
Unlike the Cuba cancellations due to fuel shortages in recent weeks, cartel violence has resulted in lockdowns and safety concerns throughout the region. Direct flights to and from Regina and Saskatoon to Puerto Vallarta have been cancelled after violence suddenly erupted on the weekend following reports of the killing of Mexican drug lord El Mencho.
The result is that airlines have suspended all flights to and from Puerto Vallarta to Canadian destinations, including Monday's scheduled flights to Saskatchewan.
For Regina International Airport, WestJet flight 2381 from Puerto Vallarta, scheduled to arrive at 11:25 p.m., has been cancelled. WestJet flight 2380 to Puerto Vallarta, scheduled to depart Regina at 12:50 p.m., is also cancelled.
Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport also saw its Puerto Vallarta direct flights cancelled for Monday. WestJet flight 2400 to Puerto Vallarta, scheduled for 6 a.m., has been cancelled, while WestJet flight 2401, scheduled to arrive from Puerto Vallarta at 6:18 p.m., has also been cancelled.
WestJet said in a statement that it has cancelled all of its Puerto Vallarta flights for Monday. When the news broke Sunday, WestJet said it had diverted seven flights en route to Puerto Vallarta and cancelled 37 additional flights to and from Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara and Manzanillo.
WestJet said it has put into effect its flexible change policy for guests travelling to those destinations and for guests currently staying there. WestJet and Sunwing are arranging extended stays so guests can comply with local official guidelines.
The airline states that as conditions evolve, "additional cancellations may be required to ensure the safety of everyone in WestJet’s world. We are advising all guests with imminent travel plans to Mexico check the status of their flight before heading to the airport."
In a post on the X platform on the weekend, Air Canada stated: "Due to an ongoing security situation in Puerto Vallarta impacting the @VallartaAirport, Air Canada has temporarily suspended operations there today. We are monitoring the situation and in contact with local authorities who are working to resolve the issue."
The airline added that customers are "advised not to attempt to go to the airport unless their flight is shown as operating on aircanada.com, and will be directly notified of changes to their itineraries." Later, the airline reported that flights on Monday were cancelled.
The situation has prompted concerns from the Government of Canada, which has issued a detailed alert about the security incidents in Mexico.
On its website, the government states that "criminal groups have set up roadblocks with burning vehicles in several cities in various parts of Mexico. There have been shootouts with security forces and explosions, including on roads and highways connecting affected areas to Mexico City."
Security incidents have taken place across the country, especially in Jalisco including Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta; Guerrero including Acapulco; Michoacán; Sinaloa including Mazatlán; Quintana Roo including Cancun; Baja California including Tijuana and Tecate; and Nayarit. Shelter-in-place orders are in effect in Jalisco and Nayarit, and similar instructions, including curfews, may be issued on short notice in other areas of the country.
The government reports there are “significant disruptions to travel and transportation, including flight delays and cancellations.” On its website, it advises those already in Mexico to avoid affected areas, keep a low profile and limit movements, follow the advice of local authorities including any curfews and orders to shelter in place, monitor local and international media to stay informed of the situation, and check with their airline before making their way to the airport to determine if there are delays or changes in flight schedules.
Global Affairs Canada states on its X feed that "Canada is closely monitoring the serious and rapidly evolving security situation in parts of Mexico. We are actively providing consular support to Canadians in the region." So far it is unclear how soon Canadians in the Puerto Vallarta area will be able to leave.
Further details on situation at Saskatchewan airports
The suspension of flights to Puerto Vallarta is significant for Saskatchewan's major airports. Regina Airport Authority CEO James Bogusz said both Puerto Vallarta and Cancun are the most popular nonstop destinations for his airport.
Puerto Vallarta had been scheduled for three direct flights this week out of Regina, with the cancelled Monday flight as well as flights scheduled for Thursday and Saturday. Bogusz also noted people use Calgary as a major hub.
Bogusz said the airport does not know the status of the Thursday or Saturday departures yet but said WestJet will notify passengers once it gets closer.
Bogusz said that between Feb. 22 and 25, travellers will want to check for "generous or more generous cancellation or rebooking policies, even including fare classes that may not normally have those."
He also advises those on connecting flights to Mexico to check their flight status. "So remember, this is not just the non-stop from Regina that's impacted. This is from any city in Canada going down to Puerto Vallarta," Bogusz said.
"You may be connecting through Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto. Make sure you check with your airline before coming to your airport to see if your flight is still operating. In most cases, or in all cases that I'm aware of, at least in the moment, I can see only cancelled flights into that airport."
As for the disruptions, "as much as it's frustrating, it's something that we certainly don't like seeing at all," Bogusz said.
"I think there's nobody who doesn't have some friends or family down there, or who has been down to Mexico, especially if you live in a cold-weather city, so we can all empathize with those who are down there. But yeah, disruptions are a part of our industry and it just depends on the cause, but it's definitely been something that we live with in aviation."
Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport also has a high frequency of seasonal direct flights to Puerto Vallarta, with three flights a week from the airport on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays during February.
In a statement from YXE, the airport said: "The Saskatoon Airport is closely monitoring the situation in Mexico. Today’s flights to and from Puerto Vallarta have been cancelled, but all other flights to and from Mexico are operating normally. We have not yet received any updated information from the airlines regarding Tuesday’s planned operations."
The airport says it will continue to update the public on its social media channels as more information becomes available. "In the meantime, we urge all passengers travelling to or from Mexico to check the status of their flight directly with their airline before proceeding to the airport."
