US, Canadian airlines cancel Puerto Vallarta flights after killing of cartel leader El Mencho
US and Canadian airlines canceled flights Sunday to parts of Mexico after Mexican officials said drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, known as “El Mencho,” was killed in a military operation, triggering reported clashes in Jalisco state and prompting travel advisories.United Airlines canceled all Sunday flights to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara.“United Airlines flight operations to/from PVR (Puerto Vallarta) and GDL (Guadalajara) are canceled today,” United Airlines said in a statement to FOX Business.Southwest Airlines also canceled all flights arriving in and departing from Puerto Vallarta on Sunday.“Southwest Airlines canceled the four flights we had scheduled to fly into Puerto Vallarta today and the four turns back,” the airline said in a statement to FOX Business.“We’ll continue to evaluate the conditions as the situation develops.
Nothing is more important to Southwest Airlines than the safety of our customers and our employees.”American Airlines said it halted its remaining Sunday service to Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara and Mazatlán.“As a result of the situation in Guadalajara (GDL), Mazatlán (MZT) and Puerto Vallarta (PVR), American has canceled flights to and from GDL, MZT and PVR for the remainder of Sunday, Feb.22,” the airline said in a statement to FOX Business.
“We will continue to monitor the situation and make any additional changes to our operation as necessary to ensure the safety and security of our customers and team members.”Air Canada said it has temporarily suspended operations in Puerto Vallarta.No additional cancellations had been announced beyond Sunday as of publication.Several airlines said they issued travel waivers allowing affected passengers to rebook without change fees.The flight changes come after Mexican troops reportedly conducted operations earlier Sunday in Tapalpa, Jalisco, targeting El Mencho, a former police officer who became the leader of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, which US authori...