Numerous flights across the eastern Caribbean were grounded as major airlines responded to the Federal Aviation Administration’s imposed restrictions, leading to a wave of cancellations and warnings of extended disruptions.
In the wake of these restrictions, leading U.S. airlines had no choice but to cancel flights and adjust their schedules to accommodate the changes.
The cancellations impacted nearly two dozen island destinations, including Anguilla, Antigua, Curacao, St. Lucia, and both the U.S. and British Virgin Islands.
Conversely, islands located further west, such as the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, largely escaped the disruptions.
JetBlue, headquartered in New York, reported the cancellation of around 215 flights, attributing the disruption to “airspace closures across the Caribbean due to military activity.”
Similarly, Dutch carrier KLM halted flights affecting thousands but announced plans to resume services on Sunday to Curacao, Aruba, Bonaire, and other affected islands.
The flight disruptions also affected some travelers booked for Caribbean cruises.
Cruise operator Virgin Voyages said airline travelers unable to make it to San Juan in time for an upcoming cruise departure would be able to get a full credit for a future trip.
