Air travel in the Caribbean and Puerto Rico will resume at midnight on January 4, after hundreds of flights were canceled following the US military strike in Venezuela and the detention of the country’s leader, Nicolas Maduro.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a Jan. 3 post on X that airspace restrictions have ended and flights can resume.
“Airlines have been notified and will update their schedules soon. Please continue to work with your airline if your flight is affected by the restrictions,” Duffy wrote to X.
In a statement, the airport said that airspace over Puerto Rico was restricted early on January 3, and flights from Luis Muñoz MarÃn International Airport in the island’s capital, San Juan, were canceled. At least 150 flights departing from the Caribbean’s busiest hub have been canceled, according to FlightAware. Additionally, 140 flights to San Juan were canceled.
Other airports in Puerto Rico have also canceled flights, including Ceiba, Aguadilla, Ponce, Isla Grande, Vieques and Culebra, said Norberto Negron Diaz, executive director of the Puerto Rico Ports Authority.
Puerto Rico Governor Jennifer González described the closure as a national security measure in a radio interview, local news outlet El Nuevo Dia reported. He added that local agencies are working with federal partners to manage airport and cargo operations.
Several airlines announced they had canceled flights to other parts of the Caribbean.
jet blue
JetBlue Airways announced on Saturday, January 3, that airspace restrictions have affected flights to more than a dozen Caribbean destinations. According to the airline, affected cities include:
Aguadilla, Puerto Rico (BQN)Antigua (ANU)Aruba (AUA)Bonaire (BON)Bridgetown, Barbados (BGI)Curaçao (CUR)Georgetown, Guyana (GEO)Grenada (GND)Ponce, Puerto Rico (PSE)Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (POS)San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU)St. Croix, US Virgin Islands (STX) St. Lucia (UVF) St. Maarten (SXM) St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands (STT)
Experts tell us why the CIA is in Venezuela
The CIA is in Venezuela – but why? This is what experts told USA TODAY.
The airline said customers can rebook their flights for travel through January 10 online in the travel management section of jetblue.com prior to their originally scheduled flight departure time. Additionally, customers whose flights have been canceled can also choose to receive a refund.
american airlines
American Airlines said the airspace closures have affected flights from 19 Caribbean destinations.
The cities where flights were affected are:
Anguilla Wallbreak, Anguilla (AXA)Antigua, Antigua (ANU)Argyle, St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVD)Aruba, Aruba (AUA)British Virgin Islands, Beef Island (EIS)Bonaire, Bonaire (BON)Barbados, Bridgetown (BGI)Curaçao, Curacao (CUR)Fort-de-France, Martinique (FDF)British Virgin Islands, Grenada (GND)Melville Hall, Dominica (DOM)Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe (PTP)Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (POS)San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU)St. Paul Hall, Guadeloupe (PTP)Croix Island, U.S. Virgin Islands (STX)St. (UVF) St. Maarten, St. Maarten (SXM) St. Maarten, Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (STT)
“We are working around the clock to support your travels,” the airline said.
According to the airline, flight change fees will be waived if you purchase your ticket by January 2, 2026 and are scheduled to travel between January 3 and 4, or are able to travel between January 2 and 9.
delta airlines
Delta Air Lines announced in a statement that it began canceling flights in the Caribbean early Saturday morning. The airline said it was closely monitoring the situation but did not say which flights were affected.
southwest airlines
Southwest Airlines has impacted flights to the following three Caribbean destinations:
Aruba, Aruba (AUA)Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ) San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU)
Customers have 14 days to rebook or standby their trip without paying the fare difference. If your flight is canceled or significantly delayed, you may be eligible for a refund.
frontier airlines
Frontier Airlines flights departing from five Caribbean cities are affected.
San Juan (SJU)Ponce (PSE)Aguadilla (BQN)Saint Martin (SXM)Aruba (AUA)
There are no change or cancellation fees for flights from these cities. Fare differences may still apply and canceled trips will be converted to travel credits.
spirit airlines
Spirit Airlines announced that flights from five Caribbean cities are affected. Cities include:
San Juan (SJU) Aruba (AUA) St. Paul (AUA) Croix (STX) St. Thomas (STT) St. Maarten (SXM)
Re-bookings can be made until January 11th.
This story has been updated to add new information.
