Maduro's capture in Venezuela disrupts Caribbean holiday travel, hundreds of flights canceled
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The recent U.S. military operation, which resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his subsequent removal from the country early Saturday, has significantly disrupted travel across the Caribbean, a region bustling with activity during this peak travel season.

According to FlightRadar24.com, no commercial flights were traversing Venezuelan airspace on Saturday. In response, major airlines have canceled hundreds of flights throughout the eastern Caribbean. They have alerted travelers that these disruptions could persist for several days, following airspace restrictions imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Destinations such as Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Aruba, all in close proximity to Venezuela, have seen flight cancellations. To accommodate affected passengers, airlines are waiving change fees for those needing to adjust their travel plans this weekend.

The FAA announced that it had temporarily restricted airspace over Puerto Rico’s international airport and nearby areas.

In a social media post, Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan explained that the restrictions were a precautionary measure due to the “security situation related to military activity” stemming from developments in Venezuela.

Passengers wait at Luis Munoz Marin International Airport as all flights are cancelled following US military action in Venezuela, on January 3, 2026, in Carolina, Puerto Rico
Passengers wait at Luis Munoz Marin International Airport as all flights are cancelled following US military action in Venezuela, on January 3, 2026, in Carolina, Puerto Rico Photo by Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo / AFP via Getty Images

As a result, most commercial airlines to and from the airport that are operated by U.S. airlines have been suspended or may be canceled.

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.

Copyright © 2026 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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