Caribbean flights canceled after U.S. strikes Venezuela

Published by RawNews1st

Airlines halted Caribbean service through at least 1 a.m. Sunday after U.S. strikes in Venezuela heightened regional security concerns.

Commercial flights to and from Puerto Rico were disrupted Saturday, Jan. 3, after the Federal Aviation Administration temporarily restricted airspace in parts of the Caribbean because of a “security situation related to military activity” in Venezuela.

The pause affected Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, the region’s busiest hub, along with airports in Ceiba, Aguadilla, Ponce, Isla Grande, Vieques and Culebra, Puerto Rico Ports Authority officials said. Passenger and cargo operations by U.S. airlines were suspended through at least 1 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 4.

Hundreds of flights to and from Puerto Rico and Aruba were canceled as of midday Saturday, according to FlightAware, including nearly 300 flights at San Juan alone.

The disruptions followed a U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and flew him out of the country early Saturday. No airline flights were crossing Venezuelan airspace, according to FlightRadar24.com.

An announcement from San Juan’s airport said most commercial flights operated by U.S. airlines were suspended or subject to cancellation, while foreign airlines and military aircraft were not affected. Travelers were urged to check flight status directly with their airline.

Several major airlines issued travel waivers and flexible rebooking options as the situation unfolded. 

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.