In a new chapter of the ongoing Omicron saga, Mexico is the latest country to be hit with a wave of mass flight cancelations as more crew calls in sick, threatening the vacation plans of millions flying into popular tourism hotspots across the Mayan heartland.
Mirroring a trend first witnessed in the United States during the busy December holidays, Mexico could be seeing a bumpy season ahead as it currently grapples with grounded flights and staff shortages.
Omicron One Of The Leading Causes Behind Mass Cancelations In Mexico’s Busiest Airport
One of the worst affected transport hubs, the Mexico City International Airport (AICM) axed a shocking 235 flights from January 5 to 9 only. In a growing list of affected airlines, flag-carrier Aeroméxico tops the tally with 210 canceled flights.
In a statement regarding the cancelation spree, AICM cited that the rapidly evolving Covid situation has affected aviation in the whole world, and the main reason behind the major disruption in Mexico City is affected personnel.
An airport spokesperson reminded travelers that the pandemic “affects all activities” and that the administration are “doing their best to keep operations going in the airport”.
Every year, millions of international passengers land in AICM hoping to witness Mexico City’s colonial grandeur and visit the nearby, mystical Mesoamerican city of Teotihuacan.
AICM is also Mexico’s busiest commercial airport, which signals travelers transiting other hubs are definitely not immune to having their holidays impacted. In fact, Cancun tourists have also been facing flight cancelations.
What Is The Situation In Tourism Hotspots Like Cancun And Quintana Roo?
As a coastal and culturally-diverse country, Mexico is the ideal destination for both History enthusiasts and beachgoers. Other than Mexico City, millions flock into the Riviera Maya to enjoy sunny breaks and seek archeological sites.
Unfortunately, American and Canadian travelers to the region are susceptible to facing cancelations in the upcoming days as the Omicron domino effect reaches Mexico’s westernmost shores.
The region’s hospitality has bore the brunt of the wave, with world-class restaurants in Cancun operating at reduced capacity, beach events in Quintana Roo called off and bars and nightclubs closed.
As Omicron-related travel disruption spills into Mexico’s beloved resort areas, vacationers to Cancun should remain vigilant and constantly check for epidemiological risks and subsequent flight updates.
As the Aviators’ Union Association warned, the number of infected pilots requiring self isolation is expected to rise in the coming days, indicating it might be a while until Cancun-bound passengers are out of the woods.
Travelers should also note that, as Omicron becomes dominant and new variants such as the IHU lurk on the horizon, the risks of testing positive while on a trip to Mexico are higher than they were before. In the unfortunate scenario where that happens, find out to proceed and arrange isolation accommodation with your own hotel clicking here.
In light of the extremely volatile situation with Omicron, with more and more countries enacting new requirements at very-short notice, we also advise all of our readers to secure Covid travel insurance before flying and refer to the CDC webpage for official travel guidance.
What Are The Rules For Traveling to Mexico From The U.S., Canada And Rest Of The World?
Tourists from the United States, Canada and all other nations are allowed to enter Mexico with no pre-departure testing required and irrespective of vaccination status, making it one of the most traveler-friendly countries in the Covid era.
Additionally, no quarantine is required of visitors, who are allowed to explore Mexico’s pristine beaches and heritage sites immediately after landing.
The North American giant also boasts one of the best connectivity in the world right now, with multiple non-stop flights operating between major cities in the United States and Canada to popular destinations such as Mexico City and Cancun. Recently, new direct flights linking Miami to Chetumal were also launched.
As for regional mandates, each Mexican state has the autonomy to implement Covid requirements as they deem fit, including mandatory mask wearing, that may differ from neighboring regions.
Tourists must comply with state-specific requirements throughout the entirety of their stay in Mexico, especially when crossing from one state to another.
