Flights to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara Disrupted Amid Jalisco Unrest

A major security operation in Mexico’s state of Jalisco has quickly turned into a serious travel disruption, especially for Canadians heading to sun destinations.

Airports in Guadalajara (GDL) and Puerto Vallarta (PVR) have been heavily affected, and several major airlines, including Air Canada and WestJet, have cancelled or suspended flights as a precaution.

What’s Happening in Jalisco

On February 22, 2026, the Mexican Army and National Guard carried out a joint operation near Tapalpa, Jalisco, that resulted in the reported death of Nemesio Oseguera “El Mencho” Cervantes, long-time head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

In the hours that followed, criminal groups set up roadblocks with burning vehicles, attacked businesses, and clashed with security forces across Jalisco.

Government alerts describe vehicles and shops set on fire in multiple cities, armed confrontations with security forces, and road access disrupted by “narcobloqueos” on key highways.

Authorities in both Canada and the United States have urged their citizens in Jalisco to shelter in place, avoid non-essential movement, and monitor local news while the situation evolves.

Flight Disruptions at Puerto Vallarta (PVR) and Guadalajara (GDL)

The unrest has hit air travel hard, particularly at Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport (PVR) in Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara International Airport (GDL).

Air Canada has temporarily suspended operations to Puerto Vallarta, citing the security situation in and around the airport. United Airlines has also cancelled flights there, and other carriers, including Southwest and American, have pulled services to both Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara.

Travel advisories aimed at Canadians note that major Canadian airlines have cancelled flights into Puerto Vallarta, and travellers are being told not to head to the airport unless their flight is clearly showing as operating.

For stretches of February 22–23, both PVR and GDL were effectively off-limits for most foreign airlines, and schedules for the coming days remain fluid. In practical terms, a green “on time” label in an app right now should be treated as a placeholder rather than a promise.

There is also a medium-term angle here. Guadalajara is one of the 16 host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with four group-stage matches scheduled at Estadio Akron (which will be marketed under a World Cup-specific name such as Estadio Guadalajara).

The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, with Guadalajara’s fixtures falling in June, right in the middle of the group stage.

By the time the World Cup kicks off, security around host cities will be heavily reinforced, with federal support and months of planning behind the scenes.

Even so, this week is a reminder for fans planning a World Cup trip that it is worth favouring flexible flights and hotels, having backup routings into Mexico (for example via Mexico City or Monterrey), and treating travel advisories as part of trip planning rather than an afterthought.

If you are sketching out a World Cup itinerary that includes Guadalajara, this is a good moment to build safety and flexibility into the plan alongside your dream match schedule.

My Take: Puerto Vallarta Can Wait

On a personal note, I was in Puerto Vallarta just last winter, doing the classic Canadian snow-escape playbook: tacos for lunch, tacos for dinner, 28-degree sunshine, lazy beach days, and a sweaty hike up to the viewpoint watching the bay stretch out forever.

It felt easy, relaxed, and about as far away from “shelter in place” as you can get.

That is why the current situation feels so jarring. It is strange to match those memories – street food, quiet mornings by the water, that uphill slog to the lookout – with headlines about roadblocks, grounded flights, and travellers being told to stay inside their hotels. Same city, completely different story.

A few months ago it was an easy sun trip; now it is a place you think twice about flying into.

I still have Puerto Vallarta firmly on my list for future winter getaways, and I have no doubt it will bounce back as a go-to destination.

For now, though, with airlines pulling back and officials telling people not to move around, it is hard to justify a leisure trip. There are plenty of other places to send your points while this situation runs its course.

Conclusion

Violence in Jalisco has moved far beyond a local law-and-order story. Flights to Puerto Vallarta (PVR) and Guadalajara (GDL) are being cancelled or suspended, roads are intermittently blocked, and travellers in the region are being told to stay indoors.

For the time being, non-essential trips to this part of Mexico are best postponed. If you already have flights booked, keep a close eye on airline and government updates, take advantage of any flexible change and cancellation options, and be ready to adjust your plans quickly.

Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, and the rest of Jalisco will still be there once it is genuinely safe to go back – and your points balance will probably be healthier by then.