TORONTO — Sunwing has resumed regular operations to Mazatlan following last week’s wave of violence in the Mexican destination.

After temporarily cancelling all southbound departures to Mazatlan on Jan. 6, 2023, in light of the Canadian government’s non-essential travel advisory, Sunwing has announced that all northbound travellers have been safely repatriated as of the weekend, and that its regular operations have resumed.

The temporary cancellation affected departures from Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, Kelowna and Vancouver airports. As a result, northbound return flights from Mazatlan scheduled for Jan. 6, 2023 were impacted by further delays. 

In a press release, Sunwing writes: “Despite the many obstacles put in its path following a challenging holiday season, Sunwing teams came together to go above and beyond to protect customers locally and in destination, including taking proactive measures to notify customers and their travel advisors of the cancellations and resulting delays in a swift and timely fashion.”

According to Sunwing, impacted southbound travellers were provided with several options to best protect their travel plans, including the receipt of a full refund to their original form of payment within 30 days (no action required), or the ability to make a one-time change to their travel date or destination before Jan. 10, 2023 at current system rates, if preferred. For all other scheduled travel from Canadian airports up to and including Jan. 10, 2023, customers were provided the same one-time change option, available at applicable system rates, should they so choose.

Sunwing also noted that “every effort was made to ensure the comfort and safety of passengers delayed in destination,” including providing hotel accommodation, food and beverage, and airport transfers – at Sunwing’s cost – while at the same time scheduling recovery flights to be completed over the weekend. 

“Sunwing thanks its customers for their patience and understanding following the recent travel disruptions, and extends great gratitude to its trusted travel advisors for their ongoing efforts and who have been instrumental in advising mutual customers at every stage,” the airline continued. “Sunwing strives to deliver a high standard of service that customers expect, and with the continued support of its esteemed community of travel advisors, Sunwing looks forward to working together to bring mutual customers to destination once again this winter season.”

According to authorities, the local area has stabilized and the Mazatlan airport has reopened after temporarily closing last week due to widespread violence following the arrest of an alleged cartel leader. Earlier this week, Mazatlan Mayor Edgar Gonzalez issued a statement to reassure Canadians and other foreign visitors that the city remains safe and that tourists continue to be out and about, enjoying their holidays.