Riots in Mexico Disrupt Air Links to Resort Destinations

Mexican security forces killed Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), on Sunday. In response, the group set up roadblocks, burned vehicles and attacked businesses. President Claudia Sheinbaum said commercial flights are expected to fully resume by Tuesday. Security Minister Omar García Harfuch reported that 85 roadblocks organized by criminal groups had been dismantled.

Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara: The Epicenter of the Crisis

The situation in tourist hubs proved more complex than official statements suggested. According to FlightAware, airlines canceled 160 flights in a single day in Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara alone. Aeromexico said operations are gradually normalizing, with a return to a regular schedule expected early in the week. Air Canada announced it would resume flights to Puerto Vallarta on Tuesday and to Guadalajara the following day.

In the western state of Jalisco, where the unrest followed the security operation, more than 200 incidents were recorded at Oxxo convenience stores and gas stations, Femsa, the chain’s owner, said, adding that outlets are reopening as conditions allow.

Disruptions were also reported in Tamaulipas, Michoacán, Guerrero, Nuevo León, Baja California and Quintana Roo. Foreign governments, including Canada, the United States and Russia, issued advisories urging their citizens to shelter in place and follow local authorities’ instructions. Canada’s Foreign Minister Anita Anand said more than 26,000 Canadians had registered with Global Affairs Canada, an increase of 8,000 in 24 hours. According to the Russian Union of Travel Industry, about 3,500 Russian citizens are currently in Mexico.

Eyewitness Accounts

American tourist Joanne Vaccaro told Bloomberg that in San Pancho, about an hour from Puerto Vallarta, traffic had been halted and most shops had ceased operations. Visitors waited about an hour in line at a small grocery store where supplies were limited. Hotel staff in the area were unable to travel home safely and remained on site overnight. In Punta Mita, access to part of the coastline was temporarily restricted, and employees were cut off from their residential neighborhoods.

Taxi driver Tomas Rivera Mascorro said he saw charred vehicles and a burned-out Corona truck on his way to the airport. He noted that the city is known as “the friendliest in the world,” and such scenes are highly unusual for the area.

Financial Markets and Tourism Outlook

Developments in western Mexico weighed on currency and equity markets. The peso weakened by 0.9% on Monday, the sharpest drop among emerging-market peers. The Mexbol index fell by as much as 1.8%. Shares of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, which operates airports in the affected region, were among the biggest decliners. Volaris stock dropped as much as 7.7%, the steepest fall in ten months. The iShares MSCI Mexico ETF slid by up to 2.9% during the session.

Hotels remain open, yet signs of strain are visible: lines at reception desks, flight cancellations marked on departure boards and uncertainty among travelers. Authorities expect operations to return to normal, but travel decisions are increasingly influenced by foreign advisories and risk assessments.

Analysts at International Investment note that unrest following a major security operation against a powerful cartel leader was largely anticipated, as similar reactions have occurred in the past. The events have affected transport infrastructure, currency performance and investor sentiment. The recovery of tourist flows will depend on improved security conditions and the swift normalization of air travel. Mexico’s high crime levels continue to weigh on the travel industry.