Canadians Stranded in Puerto Vallarta After Cartel Leader’s Death, Flair Airlines Faces Scrutiny

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – Canadians attempting to return home from Puerto Vallarta are facing significant travel disruptions following the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as El Mencho, the head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Violence erupted after a special forces operation resulted in El Mencho’s death, prompting airlines to temporarily cancel flights to and from the resort city.

Flight Cancellations and Passenger Frustration

Flair Airlines customer Douglas Connors and his partner were among those affected, finding themselves stranded after their flight home to Eastern Ontario was abruptly cancelled last Sunday. “We’re not clear at all,” Connors told CBC News on Tuesday, expressing frustration with the lack of clear information from Flair Airlines despite multiple attempts to contact them and check their website. Source

Air Canada, WestJet, and Air Transat have all resumed flights to Puerto Vallarta, with Air Canada deploying 787 aircraft to clear the backlog of passengers. Source Flair Airlines announced it would resume flights starting Wednesday.

Government Travel Advisory and Registration

Global Affairs Canada (GAC) advises Canadians to only go to airports in Mexico if they have a confirmed flight and it is safe to do so. The current travel advisory urges Canadians to avoid non-essential travel to more than a dozen states in Mexico, including Jalisco, within 50 kilometers of neighboring Michoacán.

The number of Canadians registered with GAC in Mexico has jumped significantly, from 18,000 on Sunday to over 61,000 as of Tuesday. Source

Flair Airlines Response and Passenger Rights

Flair Airlines rebooked Connors on a flight home for March 3, more than a week after his original departure date. Connors noted that Canada’s air passenger protection regulations require airlines to provide rebooking on a new flight within 48 hours of the original departure time for disruptions beyond the carrier’s control, a policy Flair references on its website.

In a statement to CBC News, Flair Airlines acknowledged the fluid situation and stated it may offer affected customers rebooking on other airlines due to limited capacity on Flair-operated flights. The airline also said it is actively working to add recovery flights and will provide email updates to customers. Source

Connors expressed skepticism about the airline’s statement, stating it did not reflect his experience. He had identified availability on an earlier Toronto-bound flight on March 1 but feared incurring additional fees if a closer date became available. Flair Airlines has stated it is waiving change fees in these unprecedented circumstances.

Ongoing Situation and Traveler Determination

Despite the recent resumption of flights by some airlines, the situation remains dynamic. Some Toronto residents remain “pretty determined” to travel to Puerto Vallarta. Source