FAA Restrictions After Reported U.S. Venezuela Operation Snarl Caribbean Air Travel

Overview

• NOTAMs barred U.S. flights over Venezuelan airspace and limited operations across Puerto Rico and nearby islands, with flight trackers showing no aircraft over Venezuela.
• Puerto Rico’s Ports Authority said commercial passenger and cargo flights are suspended through 1 a.m. Sunday, with more than 300 island arrivals and departures canceled.
• JetBlue canceled about 215 flights, American adjusted service across roughly 19 island destinations, and Delta, United, Southwest and others issued waivers and broad schedule cuts.
• Cancellations and rerouting affected Aruba, Curaçao, St. Maarten, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Barbados, Trinidad and additional hubs, with some European carriers also scrubbing flights.
• The White House said U.S. forces captured Nicolás Maduro, a claim disputed by Venezuelan officials and not independently verified, adding uncertainty to when normal schedules will resume.