Airspace restrictions imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the Eastern Caribbean were lifted by early January 4, 2026, following a U.S. operation involving Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The restrictions, which began on January 3, 2026, led to the cancellation of hundreds of commercial flights, stranding thousands of travelers. Airlines have since implemented measures, including adding additional flights and waiving change fees, to facilitate passenger rebooking and address travel disruptions.
Airspace Restrictions Imposed
On Saturday, January 3, 2026, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented temporary airspace restrictions across portions of the Eastern Caribbean. This action followed a U.S. operation involving Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, which reportedly included his capture and transport out of the country early that day. The FAA cited a "security situation related to military activity" and "safety-of-flight risk associated with ongoing military activity" as reasons for the restrictions.
The restrictions initially banned commercial aircraft from flying over Venezuelan airspace and subsequently extended to much of the Eastern Caribbean region, including Luis Muñoz MarĂn International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and surrounding areas. Foreign airlines and military aircraft were not subject to these restrictions.
Impact on Air Travel
The airspace closure resulted in widespread disruptions, with approximately 1,000 flights to and from the Caribbean canceled on January 3. This left tens of thousands of travelers stranded during a peak holiday travel period.
Key areas and airports experienced significant cancellations:
- Puerto Rico: San Juan's main airport reported approximately 400 cancellations on Saturday, the highest number in the region. By Sunday, cancellations decreased to around 20-29.
- U.S. Virgin Islands: Over 140 flights were canceled.
- Aruba: 91 flights were canceled.
- Other Affected Airports: Bonaire, Curacao, St. Martin, and St. Thomas also experienced cancellations.
- U.S. Airports: O'Hare International Airport in Chicago recorded 46 cancellations, including over a dozen flights to Puerto Rico, while Midway International Airport saw 11 cancellations.
Lifting of Restrictions and Airline Response
The FAA lifted the airspace restrictions late on Saturday, January 3, or early on Sunday, January 4, 2026, allowing commercial flights to resume. Following the reopening, multiple airlines initiated efforts to accommodate affected passengers:
- American Airlines: Added 43 extra flights on Sunday and Monday, providing capacity for 7,000 passengers. This included 17 extra flights connecting San Juan, Puerto Rico; Aruba; the U.S. and British Virgin Islands; Antigua; Barbados; and Dominica with its hubs in Miami and Charlotte, North Carolina. The airline also deployed a Boeing 777-300, its largest aircraft, for services between Miami and Puerto Rico, and operated interisland flights.
- Southwest Airlines: Scheduled six additional round-trip flights from San Juan on Sunday, with eight more planned for Monday, and two extra flights to Aruba on Sunday. The airline announced a total of 21 round-trip flights to Aruba and Puerto Rico between Sunday and Wednesday.
- United Airlines: Scheduled 17 additional flights for Sunday and Monday, connecting to its hubs in Houston, Newark, and Washington, D.C., in addition to previously announced supplementary flights for Sunday.
- Delta Air Lines: Increased its capacity by 2,600 seats on Monday.
Airlines also waived change fees and fare differences for passengers affected by the airspace closure, allowing rebooking for flights scheduled later in January.
Continued Travel Delays
Despite the lifting of restrictions and increased airline capacity, some travelers reported anticipated delays extending for several days as airlines worked through the backlog of cancellations.