Caribbean flights resume after Venezuelan airspace closure triggers mass cancellations

Air travel across the Caribbean is gradually returning to normal after a U.S. military operation in Venezuela over the weekend led to widespread airspace restrictions and more than 1,000 flight cancellations nationwide.

The temporary closure of Venezuelan airspace disrupted flights to and from destinations including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Aruba, with air traffic data showing largely empty skies over the eastern Caribbean during the disruption. Airlines cited the airspace restrictions, alongside adverse weather, as key factors behind Saturday’s large-scale cancellations.

American Airlines announced it is adding around 3,000 extra seats by deploying additional services and larger aircraft in the region, while JetBlue said it expects to resume normal operations.

Puerto Rico was among the most affected areas. Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan saw most American Airlines flights suspended or cancelled after the FAA imposed temporary airspace restrictions following the military activity. Foreign airlines and military aircraft were exempt. Airport authorities reported deserted access roads and terminals, with flight information boards dominated by cancellations.

“KLM has decided to resume flights to and from Curaçao, Aruba, Bonaire, Sint Maarten, Port of Spain, Georgetown, and Bridgetown on Sunday, January 4. For passengers whose flights were cancelled on January 3, we are doing everything we can to rebook them onto the next available flight,” KLM announced Saturday evening.

Airlines and airport officials continue to urge passengers to check flight statuses directly with carriers as schedules stabilise.