Ontario’s Katelyn Langlois and J.P Robson were supposed to fly home Sunday afternoon from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, but cartel violence has shut down the local airport.
Global Affairs Canada issued a shelter in place order to Canadians in Puerto Vallarta, as it was one of multiple cities experiencing violence after the military killed a top cartel boss.
Speaking from their resort, Krystal Puerto Vallarta, just five kilometres from the city and next to the marina, Langlois spoke of being out on the streets when chaos erupted.
Langlois said they noticed a single billow of smoke prior to leaving the resort and thought it was from a singular house or car fire.
But they were wrong.
Prior to the grounding of flights, Robinson said they joined many stranded travellers in the lobby as they waited for an airport shuttle that wasn’t going to arrive.
The pair said WestJet representatives visited the lobby and comped each impacted flyer two additional nights at the resort.
Canadians warned to avoid Puerto Vallarta as violence erupts and flights turn back
We also spoke with Brenda Kendrick, who calls Eastern Ontario home, who is there at a resort with her husband.
She said trying to register through the government website to say they’re there has been horrible with a system that crashes, she says.
She adds that being together helps to deal with flight delays and uncertainty.
Originally supposed to fly out this past weekend, she says they remain patient and hope to return home in the next few days as Canadian airlines have resumed flights to and from Puerto Vallarta.
Air Canada, WestJet, Air Transat and Porter Airlines have all confirmed they are once again operating flights to the popular resort destination.
WestJet has also resumed service to Guadalajara and Manzanillo.
According to federal officials, more than 26,000 Canadians currently registered in Mexico have enrolled with Ottawa’s voluntary registration system for Canadians abroad.
Travellers are encouraged to monitor airline updates and federal travel advisories before departure.