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Flights Canceled Across the Caribbean: What Stranded Travelers Must Do Now
Flights from US to Caribbean cancelled amid military action in Venezuela

U.S. military action in Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro triggered a temporary closure of Caribbean airspace by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), leading to massive flight cancellations and travel disruption across the region. While restrictions have now been lifted and flights are resuming, many passengers remain stranded or face further delays.

Here’s the most current, practical, actionable guide for travelers, with airline and airport-specific info and reliable websites you can check for updates.

What Happened & Current Status

  • On January 3, 2026, the FAA issued emergency airspace restrictions over parts of the Caribbean and Venezuela, citing safety risks linked to U.S. military operations. This impacted virtually all commercial flights in and out of the Eastern Caribbean, Puerto Rico, Aruba, and other island hubs.

  • The FAA lifted the temporary closure by midnight Eastern Time on January 4, allowing airlines to resume flights albeit with limited capacity and significant disruption.

  • Airports from San Juan (Puerto Rico) to Aruba and the Virgin Islands saw hundreds of cancellations and thousands of delays over the closure period.

Major Airlines Impacted (and Their Policies)

Here’s up-to-date information on how airlines have responded and what passengers should do:

1. American Airlines

  • Canceled flights to around 19 Caribbean destinations during the airspace closure.

  • Policy: Offers waived change and cancel fees for flights affected between mid-late Dec and early Jan for Caribbean flights.

  • What you can do: Use the American Airlines flight status page:
    https://www.aa.com/flight-status

2. Delta Air Lines

  • Issued travel waivers for scheduled flights to/from Caribbean islands.

  • Policy: Delta’s official flight waivers page allows free rebooking or refunds for impacted tickets.
    https://www.delta.com/flight-waivers

3. JetBlue Airways

  • JetBlue temporarily suspended many Caribbean routes and canceled over 200 flights.

  • Policy: Change & refund options available without fees for affected travellers.
    https://www.jetblue.com/flight-status

4. Southwest Airlines

  • Temporarily halted Aruba & Puerto Rico service; still flying to other unaffected Caribbean spots.

  • Action: Southwest has added extra flights to Puerto Rico to help return stranded passengers.
    https://www.southwest.com/flight-status

5. United Airlines

Tip: Always check your airline’s dedicated flight status page or mobile app before heading to the airport — this is more accurate than third-party flight trackers during disruptions.

Airports Most Affected (and What’s Happening)

Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU), Puerto Rico

  • One of the hardest hit — up to 60% of flights were canceled at the peak of the airspace closure.

  • Current status: Regular operations have resumed; expect busy terminals and some delays.
    Airport status & updates: https://www.sanjuanairport.com/

Aruba’s Queen Beatrix International Airport

Miami International Airport (MIA)

  • Though not in the Caribbean, MIA was a major redistribution hub for delayed flights — many passengers were stuck here waiting for alternate connections.

  • Flight status & airport info: https://www.miami-airport.com/

Travel Agencies & Tour Operators – What They’re Doing

If you booked through a travel agency or tour operator instead of directly with the airline, here’s how to get help:

1. Expedia / Booking Sites

2. Cruise Lines (if your Caribbean flight missed a ship)

  • Many cruise lines impacted travel bookings (e.g., Virgin Voyages) have issued future cruise credits for passengers who missed embarkation due to flight cancellations.
    Check directly with your cruise provider’s travel advisory page.

Practical Steps for Affected Travelers

Here’s how you should act right now if your plans were impacted:

Flight Rebooking

  1. Check your airline’s official flight status tool (links above).

  2. Call the airline customer service line early in the morning — wait times are long but often shorter at the start of the day.

  3. Ask explicitly for flight waivers due to FAA airspace closure — these waive change-fee and fare difference charges.

Airport Arrival

  • Arrive at least 2–3 hours early because delayed and rescheduled flights often bunch together.

  • Use apps like FlightAware or FlightRadar24 to track aircraft movements in real time — these can show delays before airline systems update.

Hotels & Accommodations

  • If you’re unexpectedly staying longer:

    • Ask your hotel for “airline disruption rates” — many hotels in Puerto Rico, Aruba, and the Virgin Islands have offered special rates due to the crisis.

    • If booked via a platform (Expedia, Booking.com), start a refund or modification request early — some accommodations are flexible.

Safety & Travel Advisories

  • Although flights were disrupted, tourist destinations themselves are not unsafe — local governments report normal ground conditions.

  • For country-specific travel advisories (e.g., Dutch, U.S., Canada), check your government’s travel advisory site:

FAQs (Real Passenger Concerns)

Q: Will my travel insurance cover this?

Many policies exclude “acts of war” or military action. Contact your provider — some offer trip disruption or delay coverage that may still apply.

Q: What if I’m booked on a European airline?

Carriers like KLM temporarily canceled flights but have resumed operations. Check directly with the airline’s website.

Q: Are inter-island regional flights affected?

Some are still operating regionally (e.g., LIAT/Airlines within Caribbean), but schedules vary — check local carrier sites.