July is a busy tourist season in Peru, and the grounding of Aero Continente because it could not renew its insurance coverage has disrupted travel throughout the country. The airline carried about 65 percent of domestic passengers, leaving many people stranded. The other eight domestic carriers have united, however, in an effort to fill the gap and will honor tickets purchased for Aero Continente flights before the July 12 suspension. Also disrupting travel is severe winter weather in the Andean region, where heavy snow has blocked airports and some mountain roads. A 60-day state of emergency is in effect in the regions of Arequipa, Cuzco, Huancavelica, Moquegua and Puno.
