Cancun Airport Chaos: 40 Flights Delayed, 23 Canceled — U.S. Embassy Shelter-in-Place Remains Active
Cancun airport is in crisis mode this Monday, February 23, 2026. Cancún International Airport has recorded 40 delayed flights and 23 cancellations today, leaving hundreds of tourists and business travelers stranded inside terminals — the direct fallout from the cartel violence that erupted across Mexico after the Mexican Army killed CJNG leader El Mencho on Sunday. The U.S. Embassy shelter-in-place directive for Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, and Tulum remains fully active today, Monday, February 23, with all U.S. government staff in Quintana Roo directed to shelter in place and work remotely.
Cancun Airport Status Right Now: Open But Severely Disrupted
Cancún International Airport remains operational with no reported full closure — but reinforced security presence and airline operational adjustments are creating cascading disruptions throughout the day. The chaos at Cancun Airport stems from broader regional instability, with road blockages and criminal activity across multiple Mexican states complicating crew movements and aircraft positioning logistics.
Over 60 delays and nearly 30 cancellations have hit Cancún International Airport since Sunday, as hundreds of tourists and business travelers have been stranded across Mexico's airports following the wave of violence that erupted after authorities reported El Mencho's death.
Mexico City's Benito Juárez International Airport has also been hit hard, recording 22 delays and 6 cancellations — adding a second major aviation bottleneck to an already overwhelmed national air network.
Airlines Canceling Cancun Flights: Full Carrier Breakdown
Every major carrier serving Cancun has activated travel waivers and cancellations as of February 23, 2026:
| Airline | Action Taken |
|---|---|
| American Airlines | Canceled all remaining Sunday Cancun/Mazatlán flights; waivers active |
| United Airlines | Canceled Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, and Guadalajara operations |
| Delta Air Lines | Travel advisory in effect through February 26 for all PVR/GDL/CUN routes |
| Southwest Airlines | Four inbound and four outbound Cancun rotations scrapped |
| Alaska Airlines | Operations to Mexico suspended |
| Air Canada | Advised passengers not to go to Cancun airport until further notice |
| WestJet | 24 total cancellations — PVR, GDL, and Manzanillo, ripple effects to CUN |
| Porter Airlines | Free flight modifications offered through February 25 |
| Aeromexico | Among affected Mexican carriers with delayed rotations |
| Viva Aerobus | Domestic and international schedules disrupted |
What the U.S. Embassy Is Telling Americans in Cancun Right Now
The U.S. Embassy Update 3, issued at 10:54 p.m. ET Sunday and still fully in force Monday, directs all U.S. citizens in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, and Tulum to shelter in place. While no airports have been closed, roadblocks have impacted airline operations, with most domestic and international flights canceled in both Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta.
If you are at a Cancún resort, remain on property until further notice. Do not attempt ground transportation to the airport without first confirming your specific flight is operating.
Emergency contacts for Americans in Cancun and Mexico:
- U.S. Embassy Mexico City emergency line: (55) 8526-2561 (from within Mexico)
- U.S. toll-free: +1-844-528-6611
- State Department after-hours: +1-202-501-4444
Cancun Airport Disruption: What Stranded Passengers Are Experiencing
Travelers at Cancun airport are facing long queues at check-in counters and boarding gates, frustration from unexpected rebookings, and standby lists as airlines scramble to reposition aircraft and crews. For travelers with tight connections — particularly those using Cancun or Mexico City as a stopover between other destinations — hours of delay mean missed tours, lost hotel nights, and unexpected food and accommodation expenses while waiting for rebooked flights.
Under Mexican airline passenger rights regulations, travelers whose flights are canceled are generally entitled to rebooking or full refund options. Affected passengers are encouraged to engage directly with airline representatives at the airport or through official airline apps and customer service channels to understand their options.
Cancun Airport Long-Term: A $Billion Expansion Underway
Amidst the immediate crisis, it is worth noting that Cancun airport is simultaneously undergoing one of the largest expansion projects in its history. The airport's operator ASUR is reconstructing and expanding Terminal 1 — expected to be completed around mid-2026 — alongside a second phase of Terminal 4 expansion, additional boarding gates, and a new connecting taxiway, all ahead of a sharp increase in visitor demand tied to the FIFA World Cup 2026 hosted in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey this summer. Cancun welcomed more than 29 million visitors last year — a figure that makes even a single day of cartel-triggered chaos a multi-million-dollar crisis for the region's tourism economy.
What Cancun Travelers Must Do Right Now
For anyone currently at the Cancun airport, at a Cancun resort, or with upcoming travel to Cancun this week, the action plan is clear: stay at your hotel or resort, do not travel to the airport until your specific flight is confirmed as operating, contact your airline directly for waiver and rebooking options, and monitor the U.S. Embassy Mexico security alert page continuously. The shelter-in-place directive and security alerts cover every major tourist destination in Quintana Roo — including Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, and Tulum — and travelers not yet booked to Mexico are advised to wait for the directive to be formally lifted before making new travel arrangements.
