Flight schedules and tourist operations have returned to normal across Mexico after travel disruption in popular destinations earlier this week.
Air and ground travel in Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara was nearly halted when a Mexican military operation that killed cartel leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes sparked violence. The operation, announced by Mexico’s Defense Ministry on February 22, used U.S. intelligence support, the U.S. administration said. Reports of buses set on fire, road blockages, and clashes with the military followed in Jalisco and other regions.
As of Wednesday, February 25, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico lifted all shelter-in-place orders for U.S. travelers nationwide, including Jalisco and Nayarit. Travelers are still advised to consult the State Department’s travel advisory for Mexico, which was last updated in August 2025 and remains at Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution for the country overall due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping risks in some areas. The state of Jalisco itself is listed at Level 3: Reconsider Travel due to violence from cartels and criminal organizations.
Regions that were placed under shelter-in-place advisories earlier in the week included Jalisco and Nayarit, plus Baja California (Tijuana, Tecate, Ensenada), Quintana Roo (Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Tulum), Colima, Guanajuato, Estado de Mexico, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro, San Luis Potosi, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, and Zacatecas. The final shelter-in-place orders for Jalisco and Nayarit were lifted on February 25.
Jalisco’s airports—Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR) and Guadalajara International Airport (GDL)—are operating on normal schedules. Earlier in the week some cancellations and delays occurred, but those disruptions have ended. The U.S. Embassy advised travelers that if a direct U.S. flight is canceled, booking a connecting flight via another Mexican or U.S. city may help. Travelers should check with their airline, anticipate crowds as operations ramp up, and allow extra time for rebooking rather than waiting at the airport. Several U.S. and Canadian carriers operated extra evacuation flights earlier in the week; those special flights ended on February 25.
Local road closures put in place to route people around violence have been lifted, with no current reports of official road closures from local authorities per the U.S. Embassy. The Mexican government posted updates on road closures and reopenings via the federal account @CAPUFE.
Airlines have largely resumed normal service to Jalisco and many carriers continue to offer travel waivers allowing flexibility for passengers who had planned travel during the disruption. Examples of current airline policies include:
– Air Canada: waiver through February 28 allowing delays up to one week from the original date.
– Aeromexico: waiver for affected travel through February 26, permitting free rebooking through March 7.
– American Airlines: waiver for Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara travel through February 26; changes must be booked by February 26 to rebook through March 7 at no charge.
– Delta: waiver for travel to, from, or through PVR or GDL through February 26 allowing changes through March 7 free of charge.
– Southwest: waiver for PVR travel through February 26 permitting free delays up to 14 days from the original date.
– United: waiver for affected travel through February 28 permitting rebooking through March 7 at no additional cost; United recommends using its mobile app and Agent on Demand for assistance.
U.S. citizens in Mexico needing assistance can contact the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs at +1-202-501-4444 from abroad or +1-888-407-4747 from within the U.S. or Canada.
The State Department currently lists several Mexican states at higher advisory levels. In addition to Jalisco at Level 3, other Level 3 states include Baja California, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Guanajuato, Morelos, and Sonora. Six states are listed as Level 4: Do Not Travel—Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas.
The U.S. Embassy advises travelers to:
– Monitor local media for updates.
– Follow directions from local authorities and call 911 in an emergency.
– Keep family and friends informed of your location and well-being.
Travelers should enroll in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive safety updates and allow the State Department to contact them quickly in an emergency. Enrollment is free and available on the State Department’s website.
