Airlines are pausing flights to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara, Mexico, after a sudden surge in violence following the killing of a drug cartel chief on Sunday.
United, Delta, American, Southwest, Air Canada, and WestJet, among others, canceled flights to the two cities and waived change fees for affected passengers.
Puerto Vallarta, located on Mexico’s Pacific coast in the state of Jalisco, is a major tourism destination. It is especially popular with vacationers from the western and southern U.S. due to the availability of nonstop flights.
Unrest broke out in Jalisco and several other states following a Mexican Army raid targeting the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Soldiers attempted to capture leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, but he was wounded during the operation and died en route to a hospital.
In retaliation, cartel members have stolen and burned vehicles, including buses, to serve as roadblocks in and around Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. They also attacked convenience stores, bank branches, pharmacies, and gas stations.
Dozens of Mexican National Guard soldiers, cartel members, and civilians have been killed.
The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City issued an alert Sunday advising Americans in several Mexican states to shelter in place until further notice. They are being asked to avoid crowds and areas of police activity, monitor the news for updates, and keep family members and friends in the U.S. informed of their location and well-being.
As of midday Monday, the State Department has not upgraded its overall travel advisory for Mexico, which remains at “exercise increased caution.” Jalisco is marked level three – “reconsider travel.” Several Mexican states, including Sinaloa and Michoacán, have been marked “do not travel” since 2023.
The White House said Sunday that the U.S. provided intelligence to the Mexican Army in advance of the operation.
