Flight service resumes between Calgary and Mexico following cartel violence

The first flight from Puerto Vallarta will land in Calgary after violence caused airlines to suspend service over the weekend.

Air travel between Calgary and Mexico is beginning to stabilize as the first flights since a wave of cartel violence began landing at YYC Calgary International Airport on Tuesday.

The resumption of service follows a tense 48 hours where airlines suspended flights on Sunday and Monday, as many Canadians were told to shelter in place.

Stranded travellers return home

Three WestJet flights departed Calgary earlier Tuesday, two destined for Puerto Vallarta and one for Guadalajara.

Four return flights are expected to arrive in Calgary throughout the evening, marking the first influx of travellers from the most heavily impacted regions in days.

For Calgarian Michelle Atkinson, who was stranded in Guadalajara after her Sunday flight was cancelled, the experience has been “anxiety-inducing.”

“I was on hold with WestJet for literally four hours to see if things opened up. Fortunately, they did,” Atkinson said.

“We were relieved to get on a flight today. We’re really anxious to get on the plane.”

Travel advice

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand confirmed that more than 55,000 Canadians currently in Mexico have registered with Ottawa.

While Global Affairs Canada continues to advise that travellers exercise a high degree of caution in the country, the minister stopped short of advising people to cancel upcoming trips.

“I would very much urge Canadians to make a decision on a day-to-day basis recognizing the trajectory that looking towards next week is looking positive,” Anand said.

The timing of the unrest is particularly stressful for many, with popular March break travel weeks approaching.

Travel agents report a surge in inquiries from concerned vacationers.

“I will say today is at least calming down a little bit, but yeah, yesterday was a little bit of a different story,” said Roland Van Meurs of the Alberta Motor Association.

Insurance

Van Meurs noted that for those with upcoming bookings, the decision to travel often comes down to their financial coverage.

“For the majority of them, they’re kind of just going to wait and sort of see. A lot of it will be dependent on whether they purchase travel insurance for cancellation interruption insurance,” he said.

Experts advise anyone planning to travel to the region to review their insurance policies carefully to ensure they are supported in the event of further disruptions.