US Military Operation in Venezuela Causes Major Travel Disruptions, Resulting in Hundreds of Flight Cancellations

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The US military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and flew him out of the country on Saturday also disrupted Caribbean travel at a busy travel time for the region.

No airline flights were crossing over Venezuela that day, according to FlightRadar24.com.

Several major airlines have canceled numerous flights across the eastern Caribbean, cautioning travelers about potential disruptions lasting several days. This situation arose after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented certain restrictions.

Palm Beach Aruba Caribbean, — Flights were cancelled to and from Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Aruba and more than a dozen other destinations (Getty)

Flights were cancelled to and from Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Aruba and more than a dozen other destinations in the Lesser Antilles island group north of Venezuela. Airlines waived change fees for passengers who had to reschedule flights.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Saturday night that these restrictions would be lifted by midnight EST, allowing airlines to resume their regular schedules on Sunday.

At Aruba’s Queen Beatrix Airport, a favored spot for American tourists located just 124 kilometers from Venezuela, officials anticipated a return to normalcy on Sunday. This follows a day marked by flight cancellations that left travelers stranded or unable to reach the island.

In Barbados, Prime Minister Mia Mottley addressed a news conference, highlighting the severe disruptions the conflict has caused. She noted that both the airport and the seaport, a hub for cruise ships, have been significantly affected.

In Puerto Rico, traveler Lou Levine and his family, who were scheduled to fly back to the Washington, D.C. area on Saturday morning, faced an unexpected delay. Levine discovered their flight was canceled when his wife informed him, and he confirmed the reason upon checking his phone.

They first tried calling JetBlue to reschedule.

The airline called back about two hours later, but the agent was not able to help them. Levine and his wife saw others messaging JetBlue on social media and did the same.

The airline responded and booked them on a flight on Saturday, turning their weeklong New Year’s holiday into a two-week sojourn.

Venezuelan citizens dance during a rally on the Colombia-Venezuela border after the confirmation of Nicolas Maduro's capture. — Venezuelan citizens dance during a rally on the Colombia-Venezuela border after the confirmation of Nicolas Maduro’s capture. (Getty)

Levine, a manager at a software company, said he is fortunate to have a flexible and understanding employer. But his daughter will be missing a week of high school. And then there are the unexpected expenses.

“I love it here. But we have dog-sitting and cat-sitting and car rental. It’s fine. It’s just really painful on the wallet,” Levine said.

The Levines hoped to book an earlier trip back if possible.

This weekend was already past the peak 13-day holiday period when AAA projected that 122.4 million Americans would travel at least 80 kilometers from home, but there were plenty of travelers still trying to squeeze in some more time on tropical beaches before heading back to colder temperatures.

“The Caribbean is a top destination this time of the year,” AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said. “We do have a lot of people who are trying to get back home this weekend ahead of work and school on Monday.”

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Diaz said “it’s understandable we want to unplug,” but travellers should keep track of what’s going on and allow airlines to send them phone alerts.

An announcement by Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, that was posted on the social platform X said restrictions were put in place because of the “security situation related to military activity” in Venezuela.

As a result most commercial flights to and from the airport that are operated by US airlines were suspended or canceled.

Foreign airlines and military aircraft were not included in that restriction, the statement said.

Air Canada said its flights to the Caribbean were operating normally, though it gave travellers an option to rebook. Another Canadian airline, WestJet, said it canceled Aruba flights “out of an abundance of caution.”

Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima, in a photograph posted by US President Donald Trump. (Truth Social)

All major US airlines cancelled flights across the Eastern Caribbean because of the restrictions and adjusted their schedules.

Nearly two dozen island destinations were affected by the cancellations, including Anguilla, Antigua, Curacao, St. Lucia and the US and British Virgin Islands.

But destinations farther to the west like the Dominican Republic and Jamaica were generally not affected.

New York-based JetBlue said it canceled about 215 flights “due to airspace closures across the Caribbean related to military activity.”

Dutch airline KLM said it too cancelled flights affecting thousands of passengers but planned to resume service Sunday to and from Curacao, Aruba, Bonaire and other 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.