Puerto Vallarta is at the center of Mexico’s most serious travel disruption in years.
Following the killing of Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes — leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel — by Mexican special forces on Sunday, February 22, the city and the broader state of Jalisco erupted in retaliatory violence, roadblocks, and vehicle burnings that have grounded flights, suspended rideshares, and sent tourists scrambling for answers.
Here is the clearest picture of what is happening right now and what travelers should actually do.
The Situation on the Ground Right Now
As of Monday morning, Puerto Vallarta remains under an active U.S. government shelter-in-place advisory. The most recent update from the U.S. Embassy in Mexico — published just hours ago — confirms that U.S. government staff in Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara are continuing to shelter in place and urges all U.S. citizens to do the same until all roadblocks are cleared.
Critically, all rideshares including Uber and Didi are suspended in Puerto Vallarta. According to the U.S. State Department’s Consular Affairs, Americans in Mexico should “seek shelter, minimize unnecessary movements” and keep family and friends updated on their wellbeing. Vallarta Daily confirmed that intercity bus services have also been paused, effectively isolating the city for short-distance ground travel.
The important distinction for travelers: no tourists or civilians have been directly harmed during the unrest. The violence has been concentrated in cartel territorial disputes on roads and highways — not in hotel zones or beach areas.
Which Airlines Have Canceled Flights and Until When
The flight disruption is real, significant, and ongoing. According to KOMO News, Alaska, United, Delta, and Southwest all canceled flights Sunday from major U.S. hubs to Puerto Vallarta International Airport, with hundreds of additional cancellations recorded by FlightAware across domestic and international routes.
Here is where each major carrier stands as of February 23:
Delta Air Lines issued a travel advisory stating that service to, from, and through Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara may be affected through February 26. Delta said: “The safety of our customers and crew always comes first and we are closely monitoring the situation in the region.” Fare waivers are currently active.
American Airlines canceled Chicago-Puerto Vallarta routes Monday morning and issued a travel alert for parts of Mexico with fare waivers through February 24.
Southwest Airlines confirmed all four of its Sunday Puerto Vallarta flights and return legs were canceled, with disruptions expected through Wednesday, February 25.
United Airlines stated its flight operations to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara remain canceled. KHOU Houston confirmed United has begun resuming some routes cautiously, but Puerto Vallarta remains on restricted status.
Air Canada and WestJet both canceled all Puerto Vallarta flights, with Travel Pulse Canada reporting that Global Affairs Canada has issued its own shelter-in-place advisory for Jalisco — mirroring the U.S. position exactly.
What Is Still Operating Normally
Not all of Mexico is affected. The U.S. Embassy’s Update 4 confirmed the situation has returned to normal in Quintana Roo — which includes Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum — as well as Sinaloa and Tamaulipas. All other Mexican airports outside of Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta are operating normally with no security-related flight disruptions reported.
What Travelers With Upcoming Bookings Should Do
If you are currently in Puerto Vallarta, stay in your hotel, avoid street-level movement, and monitor the U.S. Embassy’s official alerts page directly for real-time updates. Do not attempt to reach the airport until your airline specifically confirms your flight is operating and road access is confirmed clear.
If you have an upcoming booking through February 26, contact your airline immediately to activate your travel waiver — all major U.S. carriers have waivers in place allowing fee-free rebooking or cancellation. Document all communications and keep receipts for any additional accommodation costs incurred, as these may qualify for reimbursement depending on your airline’s policy and your travel insurance coverage.
The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program — a free U.S. State Department service — provides real-time emergency alerts directly to your phone and is strongly recommended for any traveler currently in Mexico.
