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yesterday

Caribbean Air Travel Rebounds After FAA Lifts Venezuela Airspace Restrictions

Carriers accelerated rebookings by adding capacity following the end of the safety restrictions.

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Passengers wait at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in Carolina, Puerto Rico, on Jan. 3, 2026, as all flights were canceled following U.S. military action in Venezuela. (Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/Getty-AFP)
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Overview

  • A U.S. military operation in Venezuela on Saturday reportedly captured President Nicolás Maduro, prompting temporary FAA limits announced by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
  • The FAA lifted the restrictions at midnight Eastern time that day, allowing major airlines to restore service across the Caribbean.
  • American Airlines added 43 extra flights and nearly 7,000 seats, United scheduled 14 additional flights on Sunday, and JetBlue said it resumed normal operations after canceling 215 flights.
  • Flight-tracking data showed the scale of the disruption, with no crossings of Venezuelan airspace during the blackout and 47 cancellations recorded at Chicago O’Hare on Saturday.
  • Recovery was uneven as some travelers reported being stranded at island destinations with limited information and lodging options.