Puerto Vallarta airport reopens after Hurricane Simon closure

Analysis

Puerto Vallarta International Airport has reopened to commercial flights after a three-day closure caused by Hurricane Simon.

The airport operator, Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico, confirmed that all types of operations, including commercial flights, were permitted again starting Tuesday, October 13.

READ MORE: Air Canada to launch non-stop seasonal flights from Montreal to Seville in 2027

READ MORE: Canada warns citizens to avoid Riyadh airport after reported Houthi attack

"Starting Tuesday, October 13, all types of operations, including commercial flights, will be permitted again," the airport wrote in a social media update.

However, the airport cautioned that the resumption of flights depends on individual airlines and urged travellers to confirm their flight status before heading to the terminal.

"Flight resumption will depend on each airline's schedule," authorities wrote. "We recommend contacting your airline directly to confirm your flight status and departure or arrival time before heading to the airport."

The airport suspended operations at 6 p.m. local time on Saturday, October 10, as the hurricane threatened Mexico's Pacific coast.

Storm's Path and Impact

Hurricane Simon battered Mexico's Pacific coast over the weekend, reaching Category 4 strength with 240 km/h sustained winds before weakening.

In its early Tuesday update, the U.S. National Hurricane Centre reported that Simon had weakened to a Category 1 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds near 90 mph (150 km/h).

The NHC described Simon as a relatively small tropical cyclone, with hurricane-force winds extending up to 10 miles (20 km) from its centre.

In Guerrero state, including the major port city of Acapulco, the hurricane brought down trees, cut power, blocked roads and flooded homes, according to Gov. Evelyn Salgado.

She told a news conference that a wall collapsed in Chilpancingo, Guerrero's capital, killing a 71-year-old man.

According to the Associated Press, National Guard vehicles patrolled Puerto Vallarta's streets while police used megaphones to warn people along the waterfront to seek shelter.

Shops and storefronts in Puerto Vallarta are expected to begin reopening, but beaches remain a hazard with red flags up as local officials warn of 2-3 metre waves.

While Simon has weakened, heavy rain remains possible as the storm slowly makes its way up the coast at about 5 kph.

"Heavy rainfall associated with Simon will impact portions of west-central Mexico over the next few days," said the National Hurricane Center. "This rainfall will produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain."

Forecasters expect Simon to continue a slow northwestward to northward track over the next several days, remaining a hurricane through midweek.

The storm is forecast to make landfall in Mexico's Sinaloa state on Thursday.

Airline Waivers and Recovery

Air Canada and WestJet had activated flexible travel advisories for passengers affected by the hurricane over the weekend, but those alerts have since been lifted.

Other major international carriers, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines, also issued travel waivers for flights disrupted by the storm.

Mexican carriers Aeromexico, Volaris and Viva Aerobus announced cancellations for services to Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo.

Viva Aerobus announced cancellations for October 11 and 12, including routes connecting Puerto Vallarta with Mexico City, Guadalajara, Toluca, Monterrey, Ciudad Juárez and Tijuana.

The reopening was organized in two stages, beginning with official aircraft on Monday afternoon before extending to commercial passenger flights on Tuesday.

An earlier aviation notice had extended Puerto Vallarta's closure until 8 a.m. on October 13, but the operator subsequently decided to advance the reopening.

Manzanillo International Airport, another Pacific coast gateway affected by Hurricane Simon, separately resumed operations at 8 a.m. local time on Monday, October 12.

Mexico’s Baja California state was also hit by Tropical Cyclone Rachel over the weekend, where at least four people died as vehicles were swept away and homes damaged.

The airport operator is advising passengers to contact their airline directly to check the status and departure time of their flight before travelling.

Travelers with connecting journeys should confirm every flight in their itinerary, particularly if their original booking was changed during the storm.

Passengers who have already been rebooked should verify whether their replacement flight remains valid rather than assuming they can return to their original schedule.

Mexican authorities placed 28 municipalities across Jalisco and Colima under the highest cyclone alert level, while another 93 municipalities were under high alert.

Mexico’s Navy closed nine ports including Manzanillo, Lázaro Cárdenas, Puerto Vallarta and San Blas.

Novello Desserts reported in September that Canada warned travellers to avoid parts of Mexico due to Hurricane Polo.

The NHC is advising residents and visitors throughout west-central Mexico to remain alert, as further changes to storm watches and warnings remain possible.

With files from Travel Market Report, Open Jaw and Rus Tourism News