Unrest is spreading after the Mexican army killed the leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel in an operation to capture him, Reuters reported.
Amid the situation, a number of governments are urging citizens to shelter in place as airlines cancel flights to Puerto Vallarta and other cities.
Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known primarily by his cartel name “El Mencho,” headed a powerful Jalisco cartel responsible for trafficking large amounts of cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into the U.S.
His capture by Mexican special forces on Feb. 22 amid the Trump administration’s pressure on Mexico to crack down on cartels has led to breakouts of retaliatory cartel violence in the western state of Jalisco as well as in Michoacán, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas.
United Airlines, which runs flights to Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR) from cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, and Denver, confirmed that all of its routes to the country’s biggest West Coast resort were canceled on Feb. 23.
United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Air Canada cancel Puerto Vallarta flights
Canadian flag carrier Air Canada, as well as main competitor WestJet Airlines, suspended their usual routes to Puerto Vallarta for safety reasons. Several in-progress flights were also diverted amid the breakout of cartel violence in retribution for their leader’s capture.
Delta Air Lines Flight 1901, which left Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) at 8:22 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 22, was diverted to Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) by 2:18 p.m.
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“As safety comes before all else, Delta flight 1901 operating from DTW to PVR diverted to BHM as a result of the developing civil unrest in the area and eventual airport closure at PVR,” a Delta spokesperson said in a statement. Passengers on the flight were eventually brought back to Detroit on different Delta flights.
WestJet also issued a statement, saying, “As conditions evolve, additional cancellations may be required to ensure the safety of everyone.”
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What to do if you already booked your flight to Puerto Vallarta
In terms of other major carriers planning to fly into Puerto Vallarta and surrounding areas, Southwest Airlines canceled flights going into the city on Monday, Feb. 23, and American Airlines canceled flights to neighboring Guadalajara (GDL) and Mazatlán (MZT).
“Southwest Airlines canceled the four flights we had scheduled to fly into Puerto Vallarta today and the four turns back,” the airline said in a media statement. “We’ll continue to evaluate the conditions as the situation develops. Nothing is more important to Southwest Airlines than the safety of our customers and our employees.”
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Those with booked travel into Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, or Mazatlán are urged to periodically check their booking online for cancellations or news of when flights start to resume.
All of the airlines above have issued travel waivers that allow passengers whose fare classes would otherwise not allow for cancellations or changes to cancel or rebook their flights into March 2026. For Delta flights, travel between February 22 and 27 can be rebooked free of charge for anytime before March 7.
Check flight status frequently for up-to-the-minute information about your flight plans, or get updates sent directly to your mobile device or by email with One-Time Notification,” the airline said in a statement.
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