The United States has officially lifted its restrictions on commercial air travel over the Caribbean, hours after a military operation in Venezuela led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and triggered massive flight cancellations. The curbs, imposed due to safety risks from military activity, expired at midnight Eastern Time (0500 GMT) on Saturday, January 4, 2026, as announced by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
Flight Operations Set for Gradual Return
Major US carriers are scrambling to resume services, but warn passengers that normal operations will take days to restore. United Airlines stated it planned a flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico for Saturday night and expects to operate most of its scheduled Caribbean flights on Sunday. Similarly, Delta Air Lines said it anticipates flying its normal Caribbean schedule on Sunday, though it has had to adjust plans to reposition aircraft and crew.
However, the path to normalcy is not instant. Airline analyst Robert Mann highlighted the logistical challenge, noting that airlines have "a day’s worth of passengers basically" already stranded across various Caribbean islands. He added that it would take several days to clear the backlog and restore regular operations fully.
Widespread Cancellations and Safety Concerns
The initial airspace closure by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) led to a cascade of cancellations. Carriers including American Airlines, Delta, United, Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and JetBlue Airways grounded flights. JetBlue alone canceled 215 flights. The FAA's notice to airmen cited "safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing military activity" as the reason for closing the airspace to US carriers.
The safety advisory extended beyond US borders. The agency warned non-US carriers to avoid Venezuelan airspace entirely. For British operators, it cautioned against a "potential risk from anti-aircraft weaponry and heightened military activity" within 100 miles (160 km) of Venezuela's airspace. This incident follows a reported near mid-air collision in November between a JetBlue airliner and a US aerial refueling tanker in the same region.
International Ripple Effects and Political Fallout
The disruption was not confined to US airlines. Several European and South American carriers also canceled or rerouted flights. Data from flight tracking service FlightRadar24 showed commercial air traffic over Venezuelan airspace appeared to come to a standstill after Saturday's attack.
The military action, confirmed by former US President Donald Trump, resulted in the capture of Venezuela's long-serving leader, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores. Trump promised to place the country under American control, deploying US forces if necessary. In response to the travel chaos, many airlines waived change fees and fare differences for passengers affected by the sudden closures.
Meanwhile, Air Canada reported that its Caribbean and South American operations continued normally under guidance from Transport Canada, though it is closely monitoring the volatile situation.
