Airlines cancel hundreds of Caribbean flights after U.S. attacks on Venezuela

Airlines Cancel Flights to Puerto Rico and Caribbean After U.S. Strikes on Venezuela

Airlines canceled numerous flights to Puerto Rico and other Caribbean destinations on Saturday, leaving thousands of travelers stranded following the Federal Aviation Administration’s order to avoid airspace in the region due to U.S. strikes on Venezuela.

President Donald Trump announced that the strikes led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

Flight cancellations included a significant portion of flights to and from Puerto Rico’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, with around 60% of the day’s schedule affected. Additionally, a large number of flights to and from Aruba’s Queen Beatrix International Airport were also canceled.

Major airlines impacted by the flight restrictions, such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways, United Airlines, and Frontier Airlines, offered waivers for change fees and fare differences to affected customers.

JetBlue reported canceling over 200 flights due to airspace closures in the Caribbean, while American Airlines suspended all Eastern Caribbean flights on Saturday.

Although airspace restrictions are usually temporary, some flight crews were also left stranded, potentially causing delays even after the bans are lifted.

Notably, major U.S. airlines have not operated direct flights to Venezuela for several years, with American Airlines being the last to cease service in 2019 amid civil unrest.

Airspace closures due to military activity and safety concerns have compelled airlines to take longer routes or suspend service in various regions worldwide, including Russia, Ukraine, Israel, and Iran.