Mexico: Russian tourists have difficulties returning to Moscow from Cancun

More than 400 Russian tourists left this afternoon from the Cancun International Airport, Caribbean Mexicanbound for Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow, most of them had to stay longer than expected at the destination due to the cancellation of flights due to the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine It’s been a little over a week now.

Even though Mexico has not closed its borders to flights from Russia, many of the Russian passengers who waited several hours at the Cancun airport. This to guarantee a plane ticket on the flight that left shortly after 5:00 p.m. local time.

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Some Russian tourists told Efe that they had difficulties getting tickets back to their country.

A father of a family, who preferred anonymity for fear of reprisals, commented that his stay had to be prolonged “Several days because the flight that was scheduled was suspended and was on a waiting list.”

Initially, he said, his stay was for 10 days, “but it was extended three more days”.

Other tourists who were in terminal 4 of the Cancun airport, where the Nordwind and Azur 112 lines operate, explained that they arrived at Mexico several weeks ago and although they planned to visit various areas of the country, they decided to advance their return, in the face of a possible closure of borders that prevents them from returning home.

Tourists of Russian origin waiting to board a plane back to their country of origin today, at the international airport in the resort of Cancun, state of Quintana Roo (Mexico). (Photo: EFE/Lourdes Cruz). (Lourdes Cruz/)

This after the European Union (EU) and its countries prohibited the passage through their airspace of planes linked to that nation, whose main company in the industry is Aeroflot.

In terminal 3 of the Cancun airport, where foreign lines operate, the signs of the service module of the Aeroflot line have already been removed, the airline announced the total suspension of its flights as of March 8.

Management staff of the airport consulted by Efe explained that so far “they have not received any official notification” on Aeroflot’s suspension of operations.

On the other hand, the Quintana Roo Ministry of Tourism announced that they keep the Guest Assist application active and through a telephone center, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and with bilingual attention, to be able to attend to Russian or Ukrainian tourists who require guidance.

Tourists of Russian origin waiting to board a plane back to their country of origin today, at the international airport in the resort of Cancun, state of Quintana Roo (Mexico). (EFE/Lourdes Cruz). (Lourdes Cruz/)

According to the agency, there are no reports of tourists stranded in the destination, there are only records of delays and some rescheduled flights.

Last Monday, the president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, said that his nation is not going to close itself to any country, in the face of the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

The president made this comment after the secretary of tourism, Miguel Ángel Torruco, sent a greeting on his official Twitter account to the Russian airline Aeroflot, which has been sanctioned by several countries for the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

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Source: Elcomercio