US airlines resumed Caribbean operations on Sunday, January 4, 2026. This followed swift airspace closures. A US military operation in Venezuela triggered the closures. Consequently, thousands of passengers were stranded. Major carriers scrambled to fix the disruption.
Geopolitical Event Shuts Down Skies
The US military conducted a major operation in Venezuela on Saturday, January 3, 2026. This action led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro. In response to safety concerns, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued restrictions. These FAA restrictions closed large parts of Caribbean airspace. They were in effect throughout Saturday. This move was to ensure flight safety. It was due to ongoing military activity near Venezuela. The FAA warned both US and non-US carriers. They advised avoiding Venezuelan airspace. This was due to potential risks. These included anti-aircraft weaponry. Heightened military activity was also cited.
Thousands Stranded, Hundreds of Flights Canceled
The airspace closure caused significant travel chaos. Hundreds of flights were canceled on Saturday. Popular vacation spots saw major disruptions. Destinations like Barbados, Aruba, and Puerto Rico were heavily impacted. Antigua and Barbuda also experienced cancellations. Trinidad and Tobago faced flight delays. San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport saw many flights scrapped. About 200 departures were canceled there on Saturday. This sudden halt impacted thousands of travelers. Many were returning from winter vacations. This highlighted how geopolitical events affect civil aviation. The incident also affected business travel plans. The travel industry felt the immediate economic impact. Uncertainty grew for Caribbean tourism.
Airlines Reroute and Restore Service
Major US airlines responded quickly. American Airlines Group added nearly 5,000 extra seats. This included over 20 additional flights. They also utilized larger aircraft. Delta Air Lines planned to use bigger jets. They added three flights to and from the region. United Airlines Holdings resumed its Caribbean schedule. It added 14 extra flights on Sunday. Southwest Airlines added six round trips to San Juan. They also planned eight more for Monday and Tuesday. JetBlue Airways canceled about 215 flights. The airline expected to resume normal operations. They began rebooking customers. They also added extra flights where possible. Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines were also impacted. They too resumed flights on Sunday. The FAA lifted the airspace restrictions early Sunday morning. This allowed airlines to restart their services. Recovery efforts began immediately. Airlines focused on repositioning aircraft and crews. This was crucial for resuming schedules. They worked to clear the backlog of stranded passengers. The business of Caribbean travel began to rebound. Normal flight operations aimed to restore confidence.