U.S. airspace regulators lifted the flight restrictions over the Caribbean on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. The decision to remove the restriction comes after a sudden military operation in Venezuela on Saturday, Jan. 3. The U.S-mandated operation disrupted travel plans across the region, leaving hundreds of flights cancelled and thousands of passengers stranded.
Major carriers cancelled over 200 flights
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) restriction on Caribbean airspace expired Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026 at midnight, allowing U.S. carriers to begin restoring scheduled flights to several destinations. Puerto Rico, Aruba and the U.S. Virgin Islands affected airports are expected to resume most normal operations Sunday, although recovery could take several days.
The flight disruptions began Saturday after a U.S. military action in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. The operation prompted the FAA to issue emergency airspace restrictions over Venezuelan and adjacent Caribbean sectors for safety risks associated with ongoing military activity.
Major U.S. carriers including JetBlue Airways, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Frontier and Spirit cancelled hundreds of flights in compliance with the FAA directive. JetBlue alone reported over 200 cancellations, while several hundred additional flights at hubs such as Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan were also grounded, as well as some international flights from Europe and South-America.
Airlines issue waivers to rebook flights
Travel chaos spread quickly. Data from flight trackers and airport announcements showed that flights to and from Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and others were shelved for much of Saturday, stranding travellers during a busy holiday travel period.
Airlines have issued travel waivers allowing customers to rebook flights without change fees and, under U.S. law, passengers whose flights were cancelled are entitled to a refund if they choose not to travel. However, carriers generally are not required to cover hotel stays or other expenses resulting from disruptions beyond their control. Delta said it expected to operate its normal Caribbean schedule and reopen the routes to all 13 affected airports in the early hours of Sunday while continuing to monitor conditions. While the FAA’s decision eased immediate travel fears, analysts warned that schedule recovery will be gradual and the impact of the sudden airspace closure may linger for travellers and airline networks alike.
Has your journey been impacted by the airspace restrictions? Let us know in the comments.
