Canada: Foreign Minister Anand silent on cancelling Mexico trips as fights restart

However, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand declined to advise Canadians on cancelling upcoming trips, emphasising the fluid security situation, according to ​The Canadian Press.

Violence erupted across multiple Mexican regions on February 22, 2026, following the killing of a prominent drug cartel leader during a government operation, prompting shelter-in-place orders for tourists and locals​.

Major carriers, including Air Canada, WestJet, Air Transat, and Porter Airlines, halted services over the weekend but announced resumptions after consulting local authorities.

​Anand's position

During a press briefing, Minister Anand highlighted that over 55,000 Canadians had registered in Mexico by Tuesday, up from 26,305 earlier, as reported by CTV News.

Global Affairs Canada maintains a "high degree of caution" advisory for Mexico, urging adherence to local guidance amid regional variations.

When pressed on whether Canadians should cancel trips, Anand replied, as quoted by ​The Canadian Press, “The advice that our government is providing is that this is a situation that is very volatile, and it is evolving every day...

​"To make a decision about your plans for next week on Tuesday of the week before may be premature.”

Airlines resume operations

Air Canada confirmed it would restart full flights from Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver to Puerto Vallarta on February 24, 2026, with Toronto-Guadalajara service resuming February 25, as posted on its social media​.

WestJet restored scheduled operations to Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, and Manzanillo from February 24, stating, "Flights to Mexico will operate as scheduled... with the safety of our guests and partners remaining our top priority​."

Air Transat and Porter Airlines also resumed Puerto Vallarta services on February 24, offering complimentary changes through February 2​5​.

What happened?

On February 22, 2026, Mexican security forces killed Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes, the long-time leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), during a military operation in the mountainous region of Tapalpa, Jalisco.

The operation, which reportedly utilised intelligence from US agencies, targeted one of the world's most-wanted fugitives, who had evaded capture for over a decade.

Following the confrontation, a significant wave of retaliatory violence erupted across several Mexican states, resulting in dozens of fatalities among security forces and civilians, as well as widespread logistical disruptions due to cartel-led blockades.

While President Claudia Sheinbaum has since announced that federal authorities are working to restore order, the event marks a major shift in the regional security landscape and the ongoing efforts against organised crime in North America.