Sat Jan 03 21:31:11 UTC 2026: Summary:

A U.S. military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on January 3, 2026, caused significant disruption to air travel in the Caribbean. The FAA imposed airspace restrictions, leading to hundreds of flight cancellations, particularly impacting flights to Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Aruba. Major U.S. airlines, including JetBlue, United, Southwest, American, and Delta, waived change fees and allowed passengers to rebook or request refunds.

News Article:

U.S. Military Action in Venezuela Sparks Caribbean Travel Chaos

New York, January 4, 2026 – A U.S. military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday, January 3, 2026, has triggered widespread flight cancellations and travel disruptions across the Caribbean.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed temporary airspace restrictions over Puerto Rico and surrounding regions due to what was described as a “security situation related to military activity” in Venezuela. This action effectively shut down commercial air traffic over Venezuelan airspace.

FlightRadar24.com confirmed that no flights were crossing over Venezuela on Saturday. Major U.S. airlines, including JetBlue, United, Southwest, American, and Delta, scrambled to adjust their schedules, resulting in hundreds of flight cancellations, particularly affecting destinations like Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Aruba.

JetBlue canceled approximately 215 flights, citing airspace closures. United stated they were adjusting schedules and allowing free changes for affected customers. Southwest suspended flights to Puerto Rico until late afternoon and canceled all Aruba flights for the day.

Airlines are attempting to mitigate the impact by waiving change fees and offering rebooking options or refunds to passengers. American Airlines waived change fees for flights to and from approximately 20 island destinations, while Delta issued a travel waiver for customers traveling to or from 13 impacted airports through Tuesday, January 6.

The disruption highlights the far-reaching consequences of geopolitical events on global travel and is expected to continue for several days as airlines work to restore normal operations. Passengers are advised to check directly with their airlines for the latest flight information before heading to the airport.

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