Some Alberta flights to Mazatlán grounded, others still scheduled amid civil unrest in Mexico | 24CA News
Some planes from Calgary and Edmonton to Mazatlán that had been scheduled to take off Friday have now been cancelled, someday after violence broke out within the area on Mexico’s Pacific coast.
Sunwing flights to Mazatlán International Airport from Calgary and Edmonton had been initially delayed for as a lot as half a day Friday, earlier than each had been cancelled simply after midday.
Meanwhile in a press release to Global News, price range airline Swoop stated it’s monitoring the civil unrest in Sinaloa state “closely” and can make operational modifications resulting from security as vital.
“We advise all travelers currently in the region to follow all response instructions provided by local authorities,” the e-mail learn.
As of Friday afternoon, a Swoop flight from Edmonton to Mazatlán was nonetheless scheduled to depart at 7:20 p.m. Saturday, and a Westjet flight from Calgary was set to depart simply after 2 p.m. Saturday.
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WestJet additionally cancelled a flight between Mazatlán and Vancouver set to take off Friday afternoon.
“As the situation continues to evolve, we will make operational changes in the name of safety as necessary. We advise all guests currently in the region to follow all response instructions provided by local authorities,” WestJet stated in a press release.
Canadians in Mexico had been suggested to take shelter when cartel violence broke out within the nation’s northwest on Thursday, following the arrest of Ovidio Guzman — son of jailed Sinaloa Cartel boss Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.
Such makes an attempt to create chaos typically are available response to arrests of vital cartel figures in Mexico.
One of probably the most infamous got here when federal safety forces cornered Ovidio Guzman in October 2019, solely to let him escape after gunmen shot up the town with high-powered weapons.
The Canadian federal authorities’s up to date journey discover stated there’s “widespread violence and security operations” in Sinaloa state, notably in Culiacan, Mazatlán, Los Mochis and Guasave.
The journey discover additionally stated the Mazatlán airports are closed and all flights are suspended at Los Mochis airport till additional discover. However, flights throughout Mexico and Canada are nonetheless anticipated to reach on the Mazatlán airport.
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Tina Dahl, an Edmonton resident with family stranded in Mazatlán, advised The Canadian Press her six members of the family stay protected.
The foyer resort was full of people that slept there in a single day after their flights had been cancelled, she stated.
Dahl stated her household went to their room Thursday afternoon and stayed there.
However, Calgarian Eileen Head advised 770 CHQR the danger of violence appears over as buses are operating once more and shops have reopened.
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“I was down here last year as well and I feel very, very safe in this city,” she stated.
“(Gang members) are not going to come to the city. They respect the people. Tourism is the life blood here.
“There are no incidents in the city, just the highway and they just want to secure the airport,” she claimed.
In a press release to Global News, Global Affairs Canada stated it’s conscious of Canadians affected by the violence in Sinaloa state and is offering consular companies.
“The safety of Canadians abroad is a top priority for the Government of Canada,” the e-mail learn.
“The Government of Canada advises all Canadians to avoid all non-essential travel to various regions in Mexico due to high levels of violence and organized crime.”
Those in want of emergency consular service ought to contact Global Affairs Canada’s Emergency Watch and Response Centre.
— With recordsdata from Amy Judd and Sean Boynton, Global News and The Canadian Press.
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
