Puerto Vallarta Airport Closed: Flights Canceled, Tourists Trapped as Cartel Violence Shuts Down Operations
The Puerto Vallarta airport is closed. Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport — one of Mexico's busiest tourist gateways — was temporarily shut down following the federal security operation in Jalisco that triggered clashes, vehicle burnings, and road blockages across several areas on February 22, 2026. The closure has stranded thousands of tourists, prompted mass flight cancellations by every major North American carrier, and transformed one of Mexico's most beloved resort cities into a lockdown zone overnight.
Puerto Vallarta Airport Status Right Now: What Travelers Must Know
The Puerto Vallarta airport has officially suspended all operations. Burning vehicles and blockades have made access roads impassable, and all taxi and rideshare services in Puerto Vallarta have been suspended until further notice. Authorities are urging all travelers — whether currently in the city or attempting to fly in — to stay away from the airport until operations are formally confirmed as restored. Authorities in Puerto Vallarta declared a Code Red alert, advising both residents and tourists to stay indoors.
Airlines Canceling Puerto Vallarta Flights: Full Carrier Breakdown
Every major carrier serving Puerto Vallarta moved swiftly to suspend operations after the airport closed. Here is the complete picture of airline responses:
| Airline | Action Taken |
|---|---|
| United Airlines | All Sunday Puerto Vallarta (PVR) and Guadalajara (GDL) flights canceled |
| American Airlines | Canceled all remaining Sunday flights to PVR, GDL, and Mazatlán; change-fee waivers issued through March 3 |
| Southwest Airlines | All flights arriving to and departing from PVR suspended |
| Air Canada | Temporarily suspended all Puerto Vallarta operations; passengers warned not to go to airport |
| WestJet | Diverted 7 inbound flights; canceled 24 flights to and from PVR, GDL, and Manzanillo |
| Flair Airlines | Flights canceled |
| Air Transat | Sunday flights rescheduled to Monday at earliest |
| Porter Airlines | Flights canceled |
| Delta Airlines | Flights canceled or rerouted |
| Alaska Airlines | Operations suspended |
WestJet stated that as conditions evolve, additional cancellations may be required to ensure the safety of everyone.
Eyewitness Accounts: What Tourists Are Experiencing at Puerto Vallarta Airport
The human toll of the Puerto Vallarta airport closure is being felt in real time. A Texas man who owns a home in Puerto Vallarta said he was on what he believes was the last commercial flight out of Puerto Vallarta International Airport as cartel violence engulfed the city. Around 8:15 a.m., while taking a shortcut around the main highway through downtown Vallarta, he encountered what he described as a cartel attack on a large delivery truck with its windshields shot out.
Upon arriving at the airport, he said there were no agents at the United Airlines counter. Once through security, airport shops began closing and restaurant workers gathered at the front of their establishments. Looking outside, he could see thick black smoke rising across the city — to the south toward town and to the north toward Punta Mita.
His flight was an evacuation — chaotic and stressful, with around 80 passengers who had originally been ticketed to other destinations boarding simply to leave Puerto Vallarta. Two young girls were crying as they boarded with their mother.
Meanwhile, a Vancouver Island resident watching the Olympic men's gold-medal hockey game at a restaurant in Puerto Vallarta's Romantic Zone first saw the smoke rising over the city Sunday morning. Her two children were scheduled to fly back to Vancouver on Sunday but have since been rebooked for flights later this week.
Thousands of Canadians Stranded as Puerto Vallarta Airport Remains Shut
There are just under 19,000 Canadians in Mexico at the moment, including nearly 5,000 in Jalisco State. The disruption has rippled all the way back to Canadian airports. A Shawnigan Lake resident had already boarded her flight to Puerto Vallarta at Victoria International Airport with her husband and six-year-old son when they were advised to take their luggage and leave the plane — learning the Puerto Vallarta airport was closed and their flight was canceled.
U.S. and Canadian Government Warnings: What Travelers Must Do Now
The Government of Canada advises Canadians traveling to Mexico to exercise a high degree of caution. There have been shootouts with security forces and explosions. A shelter-in-place order is in effect in Puerto Vallarta. The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City has directed all American citizens in Jalisco — including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara — to shelter in place until further notice.
For Americans in distress in Mexico, the U.S. Embassy emergency line from within Mexico is (55) 8526-2561. From the United States: +1-844-528-6611. Americans are also strongly urged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) — a free State Department service that provides emergency digital alerts to U.S. citizens abroad.
When Will Puerto Vallarta Airport Reopen?
Officials have stressed that while the situation remains fluid, the priority is ensuring civilian safety and reopening access only when conditions are secure. The resort city remains under intense scrutiny and protective measures until authorities confirm a return to stability. Authorities have not provided a detailed timeline for full reopening of affected roadways or confirmed when airport operations will return to normal. Investigations remain ongoing. Travelers with upcoming Puerto Vallarta flights are advised to monitor airline websites continuously, contact carriers directly about rebooking options, and refrain from traveling to the airport until an official all-clear is issued.
