The Puerta Vallarta airport is closed. Airlines have canceled flights to the region.
HOUSTON — Air travel in and out of regions in Mexico affected by cartel unrest was impacted Sunday. That includes flights operated by two airlines that have hubs in Houston. Both United and Southwest canceled their flights to Puerto Vallarta Sunday.
What is the cartel unrest about?
The cancellations come after the U.S. State Department’s warned U.S. citizens in certain parts of Mexico to shelter in place because of security operations and criminal activity. The warning was put in place because of retaliatory violence by cartels after the Mexican Army killed the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho.”
The warning for U.S. citizens was for the Mexican states of Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacán, Guerrero and Nuevo León. That includes Puerto Vallarta, a popular destination spot, KHOU 11 reported.
What are the airlines doing?
KHOU 11 checked with Southwest Airlines for flights out of Hobby Airport and United for flights out of Bush to see the status. Both airlines canceled all flights to parts of Mexico Sunday. So what are their plans going forward? Both airlines — and several more — posted information for travelers at the links below.
Puerto Vallarta International Airport said Sunday that all international and most national flights were canceled.
It’s not clear when the warning and airport closure may be lifted, but roadblocks and other travel disruptions are expected to continue in the coming days.
If you have plans to travel to the region, you should check with your airline to make sure it’s not been delayed or canceled.
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