At a Glance
- Maduro captured, FAA restricts Caribbean airspace
- Hundreds of flights canceled, airlines waive fees
- Travelers stranded, airlines plan resumption Sunday
- Why it matters: Air travel disruptions hit the Caribbean holiday season, affecting thousands of passengers and cruise plans.
In a weekend that began with the U.S. military operation that seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Caribbean air travel was thrown into chaos as the FAA imposed airspace restrictions and airlines canceled hundreds of flights. The disruptions rippled across the Lesser Antilles, leaving travelers stranded and cruise lines scrambling for refunds.
Airspace Restrictions and Flight Cancellations
The FAA’s temporary ban over Venezuela and the surrounding Caribbean left no commercial flights crossing the country on Saturday, according to FlightRadar24.com. Airlines including JetBlue, United, Southwest, American, Delta, KLM and Virgin Voyages halted or canceled flights to and from Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Aruba, and more than a dozen Lesser Antilles destinations. Most U.S. carriers waived change fees for affected passengers.
- JetBlue canceled about 215 flights and offered rebooking or refunds.
- United Airlines adjusted schedules and allowed free changes.
- Southwest suspended all Aruba flights for Saturday and halted Puerto Rico flights.
- American Airlines waived change fees for roughly 20 island destinations.
- Delta issued a travel waiver through Tuesday.
- KLM canceled thousands of flights but plans to resume service Sunday.
- Virgin Voyages offered full credits to passengers who missed San Juan for a cruise departure.
Airlines’ Responses and Passenger Impact
| Airline | Destinations Affected | Action |
|---|---|---|
| JetBlue | Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Aruba, Lesser Antilles | Cancelled 215 flights, rebooking/refund |
| United | Puerto Rico, Lesser Antilles | Schedule adjustment, free changes |
| Southwest | Aruba, Puerto Rico | Suspended flights Saturday |
| American | ~20 island destinations | Waived change fees |
| Delta | Multiple airports | Travel waiver through Tuesday |
| KLM | Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, others | Canceled, resume Sunday |
| Virgin Voyages | San Juan | Full credit for missed cruise |
The airlines’ measures aim to mitigate the fallout and provide relief to stranded travelers, though many still face significant disruptions.
Statements from Officials and Travelers
Sean Duffy stated:
> “The FAA restricted the airspace in the Caribbean and Venezuela to ensure the safety of the flying public. When appropriate, these airspace restrictions will be lifted.”
President Trump said:
> “The U.S. has carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela early on Saturday and captured the country’s president Nicolás Maduro and his wife.”
Lou Levine said:
> “I love it here. But we have dog-sitting and cat-sitting and car rental. It’s fine. It’s just really painful on the wallet.”
Aixa Diaz said:
> “It’s understandable we want to unplug, but travelers should keep track of what’s going on and allow airlines to send them phone alerts.”
Key Takeaways
- FAA restrictions caused no flights over Venezuela and widespread cancellations.
- Airlines waived change fees and offered refunds or credits to affected passengers.
- Travelers and cruise lines are awaiting the lifting of restrictions and resumption of normal operations.
As the Caribbean recovers, passengers and airlines await the lifting of FAA restrictions and the resumption of normal flight operations.
