Sask. flights to Puerto Vallarta, other Mexican destinations grounded, due to civil unrest

Flights to Puerto Vallarta out of YQR were cancelled on Monday due to civil unrest in the area. (Gareth Dillistone / CTV News)

For those looking to trade the Saskatchewan snow for some Mexico sun on Monday, they were out of luck.

Both WestJet and Air Canada cancelled all flights out of the Regina and Saskatoon airports to Puerto Vallarta due to civil unrest in that region of the country.

James Bogusz, president and CEO of the Regina Airport Authority, said they are no stranger to all sorts of reasons for flight disruptions, such as a global pandemic, fuel shortages, and weather events.

“To the customer, the impacts are identical, it’s a cancellation or delay of their flights. So, what I’ll say is it’s very important that when these issues occur, regardless of what they are, to check with your airline to see if they have any change to their scheduled policy.”

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WestJet cancelled two direct flights to Puerto Vallarta on Monday, Flight WS 2380 YQR-PVR, and Flight WS 2400 YXE-PVR.

On their website the airline says, “WestJet’s flexible/change policy for service to and from Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo and Guadalajara has also been extended to February 25, 2026.”

“As conditions evolve, additional cancellations may be required to ensure the safety of everyone in WestJet’s world. We are advising all guests with imminent travel plans to Mexico check the status of their flight before heading to the airport.”

Air Canada stated that “the security situation in Puerto Vallarta is ongoing, and local authorities have issued a shelter-in-place order. We are monitoring the situation and are working to bring our customers back as soon as it is safe to do so. We will share more information as it becomes available.”

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For Will McAleer, executive director of Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada, an unpredictable disruption like this is the perfect example of why having travel insurance is important for fliers.

“The travel insurance companies are making sure that they’re there, helping individuals understand what some of their options are. As well as being there to support them from a financial perspective, if there are costs that are nonrefundable and, they need to otherwise be paid out of pocket,” he explained.

The Regina Airport Authority told CTV News there are currently departures scheduled to Puerto Vallarta on Thursday and Saturday, but the status of those flights won’t be known until closer to those dates.

Bogusz encourages those currently stuck in Mexico to also check with their airlines policy about reimbursement for an extended stay in the country.