The United States military operation that led to the early Saturday capture and removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has significantly impacted air travel across the Caribbean. On the same day, no commercial airplane flights traversed Venezuelan airspace, as reported by FlightRadar24.com. This disruption comes during a peak travel period for the Caribbean region.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) introduced airspace limitations which have forced several major airlines to cancel hundreds of flights throughout the eastern Caribbean. These restrictions are expected to continue affecting regional operations for potentially several days. Airlines have extended waivers on change fees to accommodate affected passengers needing to adjust their weekend travel plans.
Among the destinations impacted by the cancellations are Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Aruba, and other locations proximate to Venezuela. The FAA implemented temporary flight restrictions particularly targeting the airspace over Puerto Rico's primary gateway, Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, and adjoining areas.
An official declaration posted via the airport's social media on platform X indicated that these limitations stemmed from the "security situation related to military activity" observed in Venezuela. Consequently, most flights operated by US carriers to and from this airport were halted or subject to cancellation, directly influencing airline schedules.
Importantly, these constraints do not apply to military aircraft or foreign airlines, according to the FAA statement. Travelers have been advised to verify their flight status with their respective airlines before proceeding to the airport due to the ongoing volatility in flight operations.
JetBlue Airways reported the cancellation of approximately 215 flights attributable directly to the Caribbean airspace closures linked to military activities. The airline clarified that flights to other Caribbean destinations like the Dominican Republic and Jamaica remained unaffected by the closures. JetBlue also offers passengers the option to reschedule or request refunds on canceled flights.
United Airlines announced it is modifying its operational schedule to reflect the airspace closures around Venezuela and is offering customers the ability to change their travel without additional fees. The company continues to monitor the situation closely and coordinate with aviation authorities to provide timely updates.
Southwest Airlines suspended all flights to Aruba on Saturday and temporarily ceased operations to Puerto Rico until late afternoon, although routes to the Dominican Republic continued as planned. Similarly, American Airlines is waiving fees on travel changes affecting flights to and from approximately 20 island destinations, including Anguilla, Antigua, Curacao, Saint Lucia, and the US and British Virgin Islands.
Delta Air Lines has released a travel waiver that extends through Tuesday for customers traveling to or from 13 airports impacted by the current airspace restrictions. This measure provides additional flexibility for travelers facing uncertainties posed by the evolving situation.
Overall, the military action in Venezuela and the resulting FAA restrictions have created considerable travel challenges throughout the Caribbean, demonstrating the interconnectedness of geopolitical events and regional transportation infrastructure.