Chris Alemany🇺🇦🇨🇦🇪🇸Feb 27

How many times do these situations have to happen before government stops hanging out at the the lobbyist's cocktail party and actually does its job regulating companies and protecting citizens?

“If the airline is unable to re-book a passenger on its own or partner airlines departing within 48 hours of the original departure time, they have to buy the passenger’s seat ticket on the next available flight of any carrier. And that means including competitors. That’s what the law says, that’s what WestJet has to do. The problem is that WestJet is flouting the law. WestJet treats the law as if it was just friendly recommendations.”

#Canada #CanPoli #WestJet #Airlines #PassengerRights #CdnPoli #Liberal #Mexico #PuertoVallarta
https://globalnews.ca/news/11708764/ghosted-canadians-stranded-puerto-vallarta-abandoned-westjet/

‘Ghosted’: Canadians stranded in Puerto Vallarta say they are abandoned by WestJet

British Columbians who were stuck in Mexico after violence erupted in Puerto Vallarta say they feel abandoned by WestJet with no help to get home.

Global News
Show threadJean-François MezeiFeb 27

@chris But, say you were booked on Feb 22 or 23 and your flight is cancelled. If the flight on Feb 24 was already full, they won't be able to accomodate many that were displaced by the 22 and 23 cancellations. And apply this to all airlines.

These vacation spots tend to have high load factors so no spare seats to accomodate those whose flights were cancelled day before.
Where there is a will, there is a way, and Westjet could have flown empty plane to PVRto repatriate on two days.

Show threadChris Alemany🇺🇦🇨🇦🇪🇸
@jfmezei Just quoting what the expert said! :)
Feb 27 at 8:34pmWeb
Show threadJean-François MezeiFeb 27

@chris Yeah, but those rules are designed for when just one airline has a problem and can't accomodate you for 48 hours. But this was akin to a natural disaster like hurricane that made it unsafe to fly there for all airlines.

I can see the 48 hour timer being suspended while the mafia rebellion was going on. But once flights resumed, the 48 hour timer should have restarted. But wth CTA unable/unwilling to process complaints this will go nowhere. This is what travel insurance is for.

Show threadEdwin G. Feb 27

@jfmezei @chris The timer is not suspended.

The CTA confirmed this week that events outside the airline’s control are still subject the obligations.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/canadian-transportation-agency-mexico-flights-flair-9.7105853

Canada's airline regulator says carriers must work to get stranded passengers home ASAP | CBC News

Canada's airline regulator says the air carriers ferrying Canadians abroad have a responsibility to get delayed or stranded passengers back on track "as soon as possible," including when unpredictable circumstances unfold, such as the violence in Mexico that recently disrupted flight service to the tourist destination of Puerto Vallarta.

CBC
Show threadJean-François MezeiFeb 27

@EdwinG @chris Consider COVID. China had closed/sealed off Wuhan, and no airline could go there. Governments got permission to send charter aircraft to repatriate their citizens.

Imagine if the mafia uprising had lasted 7 days. Is it fair to expect airlines torepatriate within 48 hours when air;ort remains unsafe/closed for that amount of time and no airline flies there?

Show threadEdwin G. Feb 27

@jfmezei
“Canada's airline regulator [CTA] says air carriers ferrying Canadians abroad have a responsibility to get delayed or stranded passengers back on track "as soon as possible," including when unpredictable circumstances unfold, such as the violence in Mexico that recently disrupted flight service to the tourist destination of Puerto Vallarta.”

Your answer is here. The second the situation allows, they are required to book the passengers. So, 7 days in your scenario = any airli

@chris

Show threadEdwin G. Feb 27

@jfmezei And let’s be honest… this situation will likely go to courts to decide.

@chris

Show threadJean-François MezeiFeb 27

@EdwinG @chris Canadian Transport Agency is an andmin tribunal like CRTC. But its decisions aren't appealed at Federal Appeals Court, they are appealed at the Canadian Transportation Appeal Tribunal (and those then go to FCA)

https://www.tatc.gc.ca/en/what-does-transportation-appeal-tribunal-canada-do

Gabor Lukacz was one of the first *individuals* to challenge decisions this high up the chain.

What does the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada do? - Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada

The Tribunal provides an independent process to review administrative actions taken by the Minister of Transport or the Canadian Transportation Agency.

Show threadJean-François MezeiFeb 27

@chris

https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/news/2026/westjet-service-update--travel-to-mexico

February 24, 2026 - 12:19 p.m. MT

Currently, WestJet's priority is reaccommodating guests who were originally scheduled to return Sunday, February 22 and Monday, February 23. As all carriers have limited or no available seats, we have added additional flights to accommodate.

****

One question here is whether Westjet left a couple of passengers fall through the cracks, or whether there was grossly insufficent capacity and a whole lot were left stranded.

WestJet service update: Travel to Mexico

WestJet is carefully monitoring the ongoing situation in Mexico, with the safety of our guests, crews and ground partners as our top priority.

Show threadJean-François MezeiFeb 27

@chris Showing the severity of situation on the 22nd: Airplanes in flight were diverted.

February 22, 2026 - 1:07 p.m. MT

At this time, we have diverted seven flights enroute to Puerto Vallarta (PVR) and cancelled 37 additional flights to and from PVR, Guadalajara (GDL) and Manzanillo (ZLO).