The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has restricted airspace across the Caribbean and Venezuela following large-scale U.S. military strikes that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.
Nearly 300 flights to and from San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) alone have been canceled, with restrictions affecting more than a dozen Caribbean destinations across multiple airlines.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the restrictions on X, stating they were implemented “to ensure the safety of the flying public.”
Why It Matters
The airspace restrictions represent one of the most significant disruptions to Caribbean travel in recent years, affecting the region’s busiest travel hub and stranding thousands of passengers during a peak holiday travel period. The closures impact not only commercial passenger flights but also cargo operations critical to island economies heavily dependent on imported goods.
The unprecedented scope of the restrictions—spanning from Puerto Rico through the eastern Caribbean to Venezuela—underscores the U.S. government’s security concerns following Saturday’s military operation. With Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport serving as the Caribbean’s primary hub for connecting flights, the closures create a ripple effect across the region, leaving travelers with limited alternatives for reaching their destinations.
Maduro, his wife, and son have been formally indicted in the Southern District of New York, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced, after President Donald Trump confirmed the U.S. captured Maduro and his wife during a “large-scale strike” against Caracas early Saturday morning. The Venezuelan leader had previously been indicted in March 2020 on “narco-terrorism” conspiracy charges in the Southern District of New York. In August 2025, the U.S. doubled its bounty to $50 million for information leading to Maduro’s arrest. Maduro has denied any wrongdoing.
What To Know
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport has suspended all flights until early Sunday morning, according to an X statement. At least 150 departing flights and 140 arriving flights were canceled from that airport alone, according to FlightAware tracker data.
Additional Puerto Rican airports in Ceiba, Aguadilla, Ponce, Isla Grande, Vieques and Culebra have also canceled operations.
Major U.S. carriers have implemented widespread cancellations and travel waivers:
JetBlue has canceled flights to 15 Caribbean cities, offering customers rebooking options through January 10 or full refunds for canceled flights.
American Airlines reported impacts to 19 Caribbean destinations, waiving change fees for tickets purchased by January 2 with travel dates between January 3 and 4.
Delta Air Lines began canceling Caribbean flights early Saturday morning but has not specified which routes are affected.
Southwest Airlines has impacted flights to Aruba, Punta Cana, and San Juan, allowing 14-day rebooking without fare differences.
Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines have canceled flights to five Caribbean cities each, with both carriers waiving change and cancellation fees while offering extended rebooking windows through January 11.
What People Are Saying
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote on X: “Early this morning in support of the Department of War, the FAA restricted the airspace in the Caribbean and Venezuela to ensure the SAFETY of the flying public. When appropriate, these airspace restrictions will be lifted. Please work with your airlines directly if your flight has been impacted. God bless President Trump and the United States military.”
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in a statement on X: “Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport informs that, by order of the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States (FAA), a temporary airspace restriction has been issued that includes the Puerto Rico region, as a result of a security situation related to military activity in Venezuela.”
“As a consequence, most commercial flights to and from SJU operated by U.S. airlines are suspended or may be temporarily canceled. Foreign airlines and military aircraft are not included in this restriction. Passengers are urged to check the status of their flight directly with their airline before heading to the airport. Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport will continue to provide any official updates as they become available.”
Delta Airlines News Hub: “Delta has issued a travel waiver for customers traveling to or from 13 impacted airports between Jan. 3-6. Customers with travel booking during this period will receive a notification from Delta with instructions on how to make changes to existing bookings. Affected airports currently include ANU, AUA, BGI, BON, CUR, GND, SJU, SKB, STT, STX, SVD, SXM and UVF. Customers should continue to monitor the status of their flight via the Fly Delta app and Delta.com, where they can also make adjustments to their itineraries. Delta teams continue to monitor the situation closely as the safety and security of our customers and people comes before all else.”
American Airlines Travel Updates: “When severe weather or other uncontrollable events impact your flight and travel dates, you may be able to change your trip with no change fee. We understand you may have questions about your upcoming travel. We’re working around the clock to care for you on your travel journey. If your flight is impacted, we’ll reach out via email and app notifications.”
JetBlue said in a statement announcing the Caribbean airspace closure fee waiver: “Due to international airspace restrictions affecting portions of the Caribbean, some commercial flights may be impacted. We will waive change/cancel fees and fare differences for customers traveling Saturday, January 3, through Sunday, January 4, 2026.”
“Customers may rebook their flights for travel through Saturday, January 10, 2026, online in the manage trips section of jetblue.com prior to the departure time of their originally scheduled flight. Customers with cancelled flights may also opt for a refund to the original form of payment. Original travel must have been booked before Saturday, January 3, 2026.”
Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González–Colón told WKAQ-580 during a Saturday interview: [This is a] matter of national security,” because the closure of the airspace is “a protective measure for the actions that the United States has just taken.”
What Happens Next
Duffy indicated restrictions would be removed “when appropriate,” suggesting the timeline could change based on operational developments.
Airlines have advised passengers to monitor flight status directly with carriers and have extended rebooking windows through mid-January to accommodate displaced travelers.
