Some flights from Calgary and Edmonton to Mazatlán scheduled to depart Friday have already been canceled, a day after violence erupted in Mexico’s Pacific coast region.
Sunwing flights to Mazatlán International Airport from Calgary and Edmonton were initially delayed by half a day on Friday before both were canceled shortly after noon.
“After consultation with the government and out of an abundance of caution, we are canceling all today’s southbound flights to Mazatlán,” the airline said in a statement.
Sunwing noted that flights from Mazatlán to Canada have been delayed due to these cancellations. Recovery flights are currently being planned and hotel accommodation and meals are being provided, the airline said.
“In light of the government’s recommendations for Mazatlan and the resulting cancellation of today’s southbound departures, today’s return flights to the north are affected by additional delays,” the statement said a few paragraphs later.
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“Customers are advised to remain in their hotels until their new return flights are confirmed and to check with their destination representative for updated transfer times.”
Read more: British Columbia travelers take cover as violence flares in Mexico’s Sinaloa state
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Fareed Zadeh was excited to finally be able to go to Mexico after his first trip from Regina was canceled due to the winter storm in December. When Sunwing offered to rebook him on a trip from Calgary to Mazatlan on Friday, Farid drove his family 12 hours and stayed at a nearby hotel overnight.
He didn’t know about the cancellation until he got to the airport. He was upset, even though Sunwing offered to reimburse his trip – about $5,000 to $6,000.
“They didn’t update the flight at all… They said they couldn’t do anything,” Zadeh told Global News.
“I didn’t get a text message. They kept reporting that it was slowing down… I’m not happy about that. There is no organization.”
Meanwhile, in a statement to Global News, budget airline Swoop said it was monitoring the civil unrest in Sinaloa state “closely” and would make operational changes due to safety if necessary.
As of Friday afternoon, a Swoop flight from Edmonton to Mazatlán was still scheduled to depart at 7:20 p.m. Saturday, and a Westjet flight from Calgary was scheduled to depart shortly after 2 p.m. Saturday.
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WestJet also canceled a flight between Mazatlán and Vancouver that was scheduled to depart Friday afternoon.
“As the situation continues to evolve, we will make operational changes in the name of safety if necessary.” We advise all guests currently in the region to follow all response instructions provided by local authorities,” WestJet said in a statement.
1:06 US State Department advises Americans against travel to Sinaloa, Mexico amid rising violence
Canadians in Mexico were advised to shelter in place as cartel violence erupted in the country’s northwest Thursday following the arrest of Ovidio Guzman, the son of jailed Sinaloa cartel boss Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.
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Such attempts to create chaos often come in response to the arrests of key cartel figures in Mexico.
One of the most famous came when federal security forces cornered Ovidio Guzmán in October 2019, only to let him escape after gunmen shelled the city with high-powered weapons.
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The Canadian federal government’s updated travel advisory said there was “widespread violence and security operations” in Sinaloa state, particularly in Culiacan, Mazatlán, Los Mochis and Guasave.
Global Affairs Canada said Culiacan and Mazatlán airports reopened Friday, but Las Mochis airport remains closed.
Read more: Canadians in Mexico advised to shelter in place as cartel violence erupts on the streets
Read next: Canadians in Mexico advised to shelter in place as cartel violence erupts in the streets
Pamela Stevens was scheduled to leave Mazatlan at 2 p.m. Friday, but was able to extend her stay at her hotel after her flight back to Edmonton was canceled.
She said she first heard about the conflict in the area on Thursday afternoon when police set up roadblocks near the hotel.
“There were no cars on the roads and there were blockades at the hotel … The hotel staff were not allowed to go anywhere because of the shelter-in-place order for them and for us,” Stevens told Global News.
She added that she felt really safe and Sunwing was communicative. Sunwing allowed her to extend her stay at the hotel, she said.
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“The hotel said we could walk down the road if we wanted to. The hotel and the Sunwing were really great,” Stevens said.
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“I feel completely safe… It was a bit chaotic this morning and they let us keep our rooms. We will wait and see.”
However, Calgarian Eileen Head told 770 CHQR that the risk of violence appears to have passed as buses are running again and stores have reopened.
2:17 Winnipeg traveler shares cautionary tale after stranded in Mexico
“I was here last year as well and I feel very, very safe in this town,” she said.
“(Gang members) won’t come to town. They respect people. Tourism is the life blood here.
“There are no accidents in the city, just the highway and they just want to secure the airport,” she said.
In a statement to Global News, Global Affairs Canada said it is aware of Canadians affected by the violence in Sinaloa state and is providing consular services.
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“The safety of Canadians abroad is a top priority for the Government of Canada,” the email said.
“The Government of Canada advises all Canadians to avoid any non-essential travel to various regions in Mexico due to high levels of violence and organized crime.
“Passengers are advised to contact their airline to check the status of their flight or change their travel arrangements before going to the airport as many flight schedules have been changed.”
Those requiring urgent consular service should contact Global Affairs Canada’s Emergency Monitoring and Response Centre.
1:25 Is Playa del Carmen Mexico safe? Looking back at past violent events
— With files from Amy Judd and Sean Boynton, Global News and The Canadian Press.
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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