Some Canadian tourists in Mexico’s Sinaloa state finally began their delayed return trip on Saturday after a wave of violence erupted in the area, closing airports and forcing people to seek shelter.
Two airports in northwestern Mexico have reopened, with international flights scheduled for Saturday from Mazatlán to cities in western Canada, including Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Vancouver.
Travelers leaving beachfront hotels in the area described a chaotic scene of crowded elevators and busy lobbies as guests waited for airport shuttles and return flights.
Some Canadian tourists in the area have been barricaded in their hotels for several days after the arrest of a major suspected drug cartel leader sparked violence in the area.
The Canadian government issued a shelter-in-place notice on Thursday, saying the widespread violence included burning cars, firefights and threats to critical infrastructure, including airports.
The Canadian government continues to recommend avoiding non-essential travel in the state of Sinaloa, except in the city of Mazatlán.
“High” police presence
While Canadian carriers WestJet, Swoop and Sunwing all had flights scheduled from Mazatlán on Saturday, flights from US airlines, including American Airlines and United, appeared to remain canceled.
Swoop said Mazatlán airport has reopened without interruption.
“A high police/military presence remains in the area to further ensure public safety and security,” the airline said in an email on Saturday.
“Service to other Swoop destinations across Mexico is unaffected by this situation, although crew and travelers may see additional law enforcement present in various other areas as a precaution. »
Swoop added that he continues to advise everyone in the area to follow all instructions provided by local authorities.
WestJet announced that its operations to Mazatlán resumed on Saturday, while service to the rest of its destinations across Mexico remains unchanged.
“We will continue to monitor the situation closely and make operational changes in the name of safety if necessary,” the airline said in an email.
WestJet noted that flexible change and cancellation policies remain in effect for customers whose bookings are affected by the latest travel advisory.
Air Canada said none of its destinations in Mexico were affected by the unrest, but the airline is “monitoring the situation closely.”
Sunwing did not immediately respond to a request for comment.