Travellers Stranded In Mexico As Mexico City, Guadalajara, And Tijuana Delay 54 And Cancel 9 Flights, Disrupting Volaris, VivaAerobus, AeroMéxico, Emirates, And Others
Published on
March 20, 2026
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Flight operations across three major Mexican airports recorded 63 total disruptions, including 54 delays and 9 cancellations. The most affected airlines were Volaris (37 delays) and VivaAerobus (10 delays, 8 cancellations), while Emirates (1 delay, 1 cancellation), and AeroMéxico (2 delays) also reported disruptions. Key airports impacted include Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport (25 delays, 4 cancellations), General Abelardo L. Rodriguez International Airport (24 delays, 3 cancellations), and Mexico City Santa Lucía Airport (5 delays, 2 cancellations). Disruptions affected routes connecting major cities such as Guadalajara, Tijuana, Mexico City, and surrounding regional hubs, with operational strain concentrated around high-traffic domestic corridors.
- A total of 63 flight disruptions were recorded across three Mexican airports.
- 54 delays significantly outweighed 9 cancellations, indicating delay-heavy operational issues.
- Volaris led all airlines in delays (37 total) across multiple airports.
- VivaAerobus accounted for all 8 cancellations across the dataset.
- Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport reported the highest disruptions overall.
- General Abelardo L. Rodriguez International Airport closely followed with heavy delay volumes.
- Mexico City Santa Lucía Airport saw comparatively minimal disruption activity.
Most Affected Airports
Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport
This airport recorded the highest number of disruptions, with 25 delays and 4 cancellations. Activity was driven largely by Volaris delays and VivaAerobus cancellations, indicating both scheduling pressure and operational breakdowns.
General Abelardo L. Rodriguez International Airport
With 24 delays and 3 cancellations, this airport experienced similar disruption intensity. Volaris dominated delay counts, while VivaAerobus was responsible for all cancellations, reinforcing a consistent airline-level pattern.
Mexico City Santa Lucía Airport
This airport saw 5 delays and 2 cancellations, making it the least affected among the three. Disruptions were distributed across multiple carriers, including VivaAerobus, Emirates, Lufthansa Cargo, and Mexicana, reflecting lower traffic but broader airline involvement.
Airlines Most Affected by Flight Cancellations and Delays
Volaris
Volaris recorded 37 delays, making it the largest contributor to overall disruptions. The airline showed consistent delay-heavy patterns across multiple airports without cancellations.
VivaAerobus
VivaAerobus reported 10 delays and 8 cancellations, accounting for all cancellations in the dataset. This indicates more severe operational disruptions compared to other carriers.
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Emirates
Emirates experienced 1 delay and 1 cancellation, representing a high disruption ratio relative to its limited operations at Mexico City Santa Lucía Airport.
What Can Affected Passengers Do?
- Check real-time flight status updates before heading to airports like Guadalajara or Tijuana, and refresh updates frequently as schedules may change multiple times within short intervals.
- Stay in contact with airline support teams such as Volaris or VivaAerobus for rebooking options, and explore alternative flights or nearby departure airports if delays escalate.
- Arrive early at airports including Mexico City Santa Lucía Airport to accommodate possible delays, longer queues, and additional security or boarding procedures during disrupted operations.
- Keep digital and physical copies of travel documents readily accessible, ensuring quick verification during rebooking, security checks, or airline assistance processes.
- Monitor announcements for gate changes or revised boarding times, and stay near designated boarding areas to avoid missing updates in busy terminals.
- Consider flexible travel plans when flying through high-traffic hubs experiencing delays, including buffer time between connections and backup travel arrangements where possible.
Overview of Flight Cancellations And Delays
Flight disruptions across Mexico highlighted a delay-dominant pattern, particularly affecting Volaris, VivaAerobus, AeroMéxico, Emirates, Lufthansa Cargo, and Mexicana. Major urban routes connecting Guadalajara, Tijuana, and Mexico City experienced repeated operational slowdowns, with delays reported consistently across these cities. While cancellations remained limited, they were concentrated within VivaAerobus operations, indicating localized operational strain. Meanwhile, delays spread across multiple carriers and cities such as Guadalajara and Tijuana, reflecting broader network congestion rather than isolated incidents.
Source: Different airports and FlightAware
