Air travel across the Caribbean descended into chaos over the weekend following a dramatic military operation. The United States military's capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife led to immediate and widespread airspace restrictions, disrupting the plans of thousands of holidaymakers during a peak travel period.
Widespread Airspace Closures and Cancellations
According to flight tracking service FlightRadar24, no commercial aircraft were flying over Venezuelan airspace on Saturday. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) swiftly imposed sweeping restrictions, forcing major airlines to cancel hundreds of flights across the eastern Caribbean. This created a ripple effect of delays and cancellations that airlines warned could persist for several days.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated the FAA acted for passenger safety. In a post on social media platform X, he confirmed, "the FAA restricted the airspace in the Caribbean and Venezuela to ensure the SAFETY of the flying public." He added that restrictions would be lifted when appropriate and advised affected passengers to contact their airlines directly.
Key Destinations Impacted
The disruptions severely affected services to and from several major tourist hubs, including:
- Puerto Rico
- Aruba
- The US Virgin Islands
- The British Virgin Islands
- More than a dozen islands in the Lesser Antilles
Aruba's Queen Beatrix International Airport, located just 15 miles off Venezuela's coast, saw widespread cancellations on Saturday. Airport authorities expected normal operations to resume on Sunday. The impact extended beyond aviation; Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley confirmed the situation affected both air and sea ports of entry, calling the consequences "exceedingly disruptive."
Airline Responses and Passenger Woes
Major carriers scrambled to modify schedules and assist stranded passengers. Most airlines waived change fees for affected travellers. Here is how some key airlines responded:
JetBlue cancelled about 215 flights "due to airspace closures across the Caribbean related to military activity." It offered rebooking or refunds to customers.
United Airlines modified its schedule and allowed fee-free changes, coordinating with US authorities.
Southwest Airlines cancelled all Aruba flights on Saturday and suspended Puerto Rico services until further notice.
American Airlines waived fees for flights to around 20 island destinations.
Delta Air Lines issued a travel waiver for customers through 13 affected airports until Tuesday.
KLM, the Dutch carrier, cancelled flights affecting thousands but planned to resume Caribbean services on Sunday.
"Really Painful on the Wallet": A Passenger's Story
The human impact was immediate. Lou Levine and his family, scheduled to return to Washington DC from Puerto Rico, found their JetBlue flight cancelled. After failed rebooking attempts, the airline placed them on a flight for the following Saturday, turning a week-long New Year holiday into a two-week stay.
While his employer was accommodating, Levine highlighted the hidden costs: "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." His daughter will also miss a week of high school. The family hopes to secure an earlier return if flights resume.
Peak Season Disruption
The chaos struck right after the peak holiday period. According to AAA, nearly 122.4 million Americans had travelled at least 50 miles from home during the holidays, with many still in the Caribbean trying to return before work and school.
"The Caribbean is a top destination this time of the year," said AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz. "We do have a lot of people who are trying to get back home this weekend ahead of work and school on Monday." Diaz urged travellers to stay informed and monitor airline updates closely despite the desire to unplug on vacation.
The incident underscores how geopolitical events can swiftly paralyse regional travel infrastructure, leaving passengers stranded and facing significant unforeseen expenses during what should be a relaxing holiday period.
