NEW YORK — The U.S. military’s operation early Saturday, which resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, has significantly impacted travel across the Caribbean at a peak travel time.
According to FlightRadar24.com, no flights were traversing Venezuelan airspace on Saturday. In response, major airlines have cancelled numerous flights throughout the eastern Caribbean, cautioning travelers that these disruptions might persist for several days. This follows the Federal Aviation Administration’s newly imposed airspace restrictions.
Flights destined for Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Aruba, and other nearby locations have been called off. Airlines are accommodating passengers by waiving change fees for those needing to adjust their travel plans this weekend.
The FAA previously announced a temporary airspace restriction affecting Puerto Rico’s main international airport and its surrounding areas.
San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport shared on the social media platform X that these restrictions are due to the “security situation related to military activity” in Venezuela.
Consequently, most flights operated by U.S. airlines to and from the airport have been suspended or are at risk of cancellation.
Foreign airlines and military aircraft are not included in this restriction, the statement said. “Passengers are urged to check the status of their flight directly with their airline before heading to the airport.”
JetBlue said it canceled about 215 flights “due to airspace closures across the Caribbean related to military activity.” It also noted that flights to the Dominican Republic and Jamaica were not affected by the government’s restrictions. Customers could rebook their travel or request a refund if the flights were canceled, the company said.
United said it was adjusting its schedule to account for airspace closures in the Venezuela region. It said customers could change their travel plans in the region for free as it continued to monitor the situation and worked with U.S. aviation authorities.
Southwest said it canceled all Aruba flights for Saturday and suspended Puerto Rico flights until late afternoon, but flights to the Dominican Republic were unaffected.
American said it was waiving change fees for flights to and from about 20 island destinations, including Anguilla, Antigua, Curacao, Saint Lucia and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands.
Delta said it has issued a travel waiver for customers traveling to or from 13 impacted airports through Tuesday.
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