This Airline Left Passengers Stranded in Mexico

Image: A frustrated traveler at the airport. (photo via anyaberkut/iStock/Getty Images Plus)
Image: A frustrated traveler at the airport. (photo via anyaberkut/iStock/Getty Images Plus)
Donald Wood
by Donald Wood
Last updated: 1:18 PM ET, Tue April 17, 2018

Flight cancellations are a nightmare for travelers, but hundreds of tourists from Minnesota were stranded in Mexico after an airline abruptly ended its seasonal service.

According to The Associated Press, Sun Country Airlines was forced to cancel its flights from Los Cabos and Mazatlan Saturday due to storms in the area.

Unfortunately, the journeys from the Mexican tourist hotspots were the last flights for the season and the carrier couldn't send another plane to pick up the stranded passengers as it would have resulted in canceling flights to other destinations.

The impacted travelers were forced to find other ways to get home from Mexico, but Sun Country said it was issuing a full refund for the return portion of their flight for everyone stranded due to the storms.

As a result, United States Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota called on federal transportation officials Monday to look into the cancellations and determine if the airline had done enough to protect its customers in the ordeal.

"As many travelers are already financially squeezed by the airline industry, it is troublesome to see a domestic carrier abandoning its passengers in a foreign country, forcing them to find their own way home and to incur further expense of time and money," Smith said in a letter to the Department of Transportation.

The incident comes at a time of change for Sun Country, as the airline was recently sold to Apollo Global Management. The new ownership group announced in February it plans to cut 350 jobs from the airline's ground service operations at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.


For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.

Topics From This Article to Explore

More From TravelPulse

Related Videos

Grow Your Travel Business With Certified Courses

Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Allianz Specialist ProgramProtect every journey with Allianz Partners Travel Insurance.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Majestic Resorts Specialist ProgramDiscover all-inclusive luxury at Majestic Resorts in paradise.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Los Cabos Specialist ProgramSell the magic of Los Cabos: luxury, adventure, and endless sunshine.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Allianz Specialist ProgramProtect every journey with Allianz Partners Travel Insurance.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Majestic Resorts Specialist ProgramDiscover all-inclusive luxury at Majestic Resorts in paradise.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Los Cabos Specialist ProgramSell the magic of Los Cabos: luxury, adventure, and endless sunshine.

Don't Miss These Travel Agent Events and Trainings

Watch Now!
Worry-Free Access to the World - Part 3Monday, November 2, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join Travel Weekly, TravelAge West, and TravelPulse for Worry-Free Access to the World, a webinar...
Watch Now!
Mexico for the Western Traveler Part 2: 2026Tuesday, October 29, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join Travel Weekly, TravelAge West and TravelPulse in the virtual studios for Discover Mexico for the...
Watch Now!
River Cruises PlusMonday, October 26, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join Travel Weekly, TravelAge West, TravelPulse and leaders from top river cruise companies to get the...
Watch Now!
Worry-Free Access to the World - Part 3Monday, November 2, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join Travel Weekly, TravelAge West, and TravelPulse for Worry-Free Access to the World, a webinar...
Watch Now!
Mexico for the Western Traveler Part 2: 2026Tuesday, October 29, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join Travel Weekly, TravelAge West and TravelPulse in the virtual studios for Discover Mexico for the...
Watch Now!
River Cruises PlusMonday, October 26, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join Travel Weekly, TravelAge West, TravelPulse and leaders from top river cruise companies to get the...