Mexico trip warnings remain as airlines resume flights

Several Canadian carriers have announced the resumption of some Mexico flights while the Canadian government maintains regional travel advisories for parts of the country.

March break is approaching and safety concerns persist for tourists planning trips to Mexico. Weekend violence prompted some airlines to suspend flights and led authorities to advise sheltering in place in certain areas. Several Canadian carriers have announced plans to resume service to popular destinations including Puerto Vallarta after reviewing local conditions. The Canadian government has issued regional travel advisories covering parts of more than a dozen states. Current status: - Air Canada, WestJet, Air Transat and Porter announced resumption of flights to Puerto Vallarta and other routes after earlier cancellations and diversions. - Ottawa recommends avoiding non-essential travel to parts of more than a dozen Mexican states; most of Jalisco is under a lower advisory level to exercise a high degree of caution. - More than 55,000 Canadians in Mexico had registered with Global Affairs Canada; officials say registration can be used to notify travellers of emergencies, and a travel expert described registration as primarily a way to signal presence. - Insurance specialists say refunds are unlikely if flights are operating; coverage for cancellations depends on whether trip cancellation insurance was purchased before Ottawa's advisory and on the advisory level, and the recent unrest is being treated as a known condition that limits new coverage. Summary: Airlines are resuming services to affected destinations while the government keeps regional warnings in place and cautions that further incidents are possible. Insurance outcomes depend on when coverage was purchased and the advisory level for the destination. Undetermined at this time.