If western Mexico is in your travel plans over the next few days, you may want to consider delaying your travel — or, at least, keep yourself updated as to the latest information pertaining to civil unrest in that part of the country due to a wave of violence — especially in the state of Sinaloa — following the arrest of the son of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán, who is a drug cartel kingpin and is currently serving time in jail.
Travel Alert January 2023: Civil Unrest in Western Mexico
At least 29 people have been killed.
In one incident, gunshots reportedly echoed at an airport as an airplane which was operated by Aeromexico was escorted by aircraft of the military in Mexico.
A Level 4 travel advisory for six states in Mexico was issued on Wednesday, October 5, 2022 by the Bureau of Consular affairs — which is a division of the Department of State of the United States — and is still in effect for specifically the following states:
Do Not Travel To:
- Colima state due to crime and kidnapping.
- Guerrero state due to crime.
- Michoacan state due to crime and kidnapping.
- Sinaloa state due to crime and kidnapping
- Tamaulipas state due to crime and kidnapping.
- Zacatecas state due to crime and kidnapping.
This statement is from the official Internet web site of the United States Embassy in Mexico:
Event: The U.S. Consulate Hermosillo received reports of gunfire, roadblocks, and fires throughout the cities of Culiacan, Los Mochis, and Guasave. Sinaloa Governor Ruben Rocha has called for the public to shelter in place. U.S. citizens throughout Sinaloa should remain alert for potential violence throughout the state. The U.S. Consulate General reminds U.S. citizens that Sinaloa is classified as Level 4: Do Not Travel in the State Department’s travel advisory for Mexico.
Flight Waivers, Delays and Cancellations
If you are traveling to, from, or within western Mexico over the next few days, expect delays and cancellations of flights. Keep up to date on the latest information pertaining to the civil unrest which may adversely affect your travel plans. Better yet, postponing or canceling your trip might be a better option — no matter which mode of travel you plan on taking.
If you have a flight scheduled, your flight may be delayed or canceled — and you may be eligible for a waiver of a fee to change your itinerary. If you are driving in any of these areas, watch out for deteriorating conditions and traffic problems.
Here are four airlines which have issued travel alerts as a result of this civil unrest:
- American Airlines has issued travel alerts for Culiacan, Durango, Hermosillo, and Mazatlan for Thursday, January 5, 2023 through Sunday, January 8, 2023; and Tuesday, January 10, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- United Airlines has issued a travel alert for Mazatlan for Thursday, January 5, 2023 through Friday, January 6, 2023; and Monday, January 9, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Alaska Airlines has issued a travel alert for Mazatlan for Thursday, January 5, 2023 through Sunday, January 8, 2023; and Wednesday, January 11, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Aeromexico has issued a travel alerts for Ciudad Juarez, Culiacan, Los Mochis, Mazatlan, and Ciudad Obregon for Thursday, January 5, 2023 through Saturday, January 7, 2023; and Tuesday, January 10, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
Final Boarding Call
Be sure to contact your airline or transportation provider for the latest information pertaining to your travels — if they are adversely affected — and please: travel safely.
Photograph ©2006 by Brian Cohen.
