Hundreds of flights canceled in eastern Caribbean following U.S. military action in Venezuela

that seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and removed him from the country early Saturday has also interrupted Caribbean travel during a peak period for the region.

According to FlightRadar24.com, no commercial flights were traversing Venezuelan airspace on Saturday. Additionally, major carriers scrapped hundreds of flights throughout the eastern Caribbean and alerted travelers that the interruptions might persist for several days following FAA-imposed limitations.

Cancellations affected services to and from Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Aruba, and over twelve other locations in the Lesser Antilles chain situated north of Venezuela. Carriers are eliminating change fees for customers needing to alter their weekend travel plans.

Officials at Aruba’s Queen Beatrix airport—a favored getaway for American tourists located just 15 miles (24 kilometers) from Venezuela’s shoreline—stated they anticipated normal operations to restart Sunday following Saturday’s flight cancellations that left passengers stuck or prevented from reaching the island.

In a social media message, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that “the FAA limited airspace in the Caribbean and Venezuela to guarantee the SAFETY of air travelers.”

“These airspace limitations will be removed when suitable,” he posted on platform X. “Travelers whose flights have been affected should contact their airlines directly.”

Lou Levine, his spouse, and their three kids were scheduled to return to the Washington, D.C., region from Puerto Rico Saturday morning. Instead, he awoke to his wife informing him their flight was scrapped. Checking his phone revealed the reason.

Their initial attempt involved calling JetBlue to rearrange their travel. The carrier returned their call roughly two hours later, but the representative couldn’t assist. Noticing other passengers contacting JetBlue via social media, the Levines did likewise. The airline replied and secured them seats on a flight departing the following Saturday, extending their weeklong New Year’s vacation into a fortnight-long stay.

Levine, who manages a software firm, considers himself lucky to have an accommodating boss. However, his daughter will lose a week of high school. Plus, there are unforeseen costs.

“I adore it here. But we’re paying for pet sitting and vehicle rental. It’s okay. It’s just a real financial strain,” Levine remarked.

The family hopes to secure an earlier return if services restart sooner than expected.

Although this weekend fell after the peak 13-day holiday window during which AAA forecasted 122.4 million Americans would journey at least 50 miles from home, numerous tourists were still attempting to enjoy extra days on tropical shores before returning to chillier climates.

“The Caribbean ranks as a premier destination during this season,” noted AAA representative Aixa Diaz. “Many individuals are attempting to return home this weekend before Monday’s work and school commitments.”

Diaz acknowledged that “wanting to disconnect is understandable,” but advised travelers to stay informed and enable airline mobile notifications.

The FAA previously announced it had enacted a temporary airspace limitation over Puerto Rico’s international airport and adjacent areas.

A statement posted on X by San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport indicated that limitations were implemented due to the “security situation connected to military operations” in Venezuela.

Consequently, the majority of U.S. carrier-operated commercial flights to and from the airport were halted or annulled.

The announcement noted that foreign carriers and military planes were exempt from that limitation.

JetBlue reported scrapping approximately 215 flights “because of Caribbean airspace shutdowns linked to military operations.” The carrier also pointed out that services further west to the Dominican Republic and Jamaica remained unaffected by federal restrictions. The company stated that passengers could reschedule or seek reimbursement for canceled services.

United Airlines announced it was modifying its timetable to accommodate airspace shutdowns. The carrier stated that travelers could modify their regional itineraries without charge while it continued tracking developments and coordinating with American aviation officials.

Southwest Airlines reported canceling all Saturday services to Aruba and halting Puerto Rico flights indefinitely, though Dominican Republic routes continued operating normally.

American Airlines announced it was eliminating change fees for services to and from roughly 20 island locations, among them Anguilla, Antigua, Curacao, Saint Lucia, and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands.

Delta Air Lines stated it had released a travel exemption for passengers flying to or from 13 affected airports through Tuesday.

Netherlands-based KLM reported canceling services that impacted thousands of travelers, but intended to restart operations Sunday to and from Curacao, Aruba, Bonaire, and additional islands.

The flight interruptions also impacted some passengers with reservations for Caribbean cruises. Virgin Voyages announced that air travelers who couldn’t reach San Juan before their scheduled cruise departure would receive full credit toward a future voyage.