On January 3, 2026, large-scale civil aviation disruptions occurred in the Caribbean, northern South America, and some U.S.-linked routes after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an emergency airspace restriction order related to U.S. military attacks in Venezuela.
In response to the military action, the FAA ordered commercial aircraft to avoid certain airspace in the region, resulting in a series of cancellations and delays around the Caribbean.
U.S. airlines, including American Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines, have suspended service to destinations near or through airspace in Venezuela and the Caribbean, among others. JetBlue alone has canceled hundreds of flights to core leisure markets such as San Juan, St. Thomas, Punta Cana, Barbados and Aruba.
American Airlines addressed the delay in a statement.
“American Airlines is aware of the Eastern Caribbean airspace closures that were issued late at night and is closely monitoring the situation with the FAA. The safety and security of our customers and team members is our top priority, and we are making schedule adjustments as necessary.”
Several airports have reported severe schedule disruptions, with Miami International Airport experiencing dozens of cancellations and nearly 150 delays as airlines adapted to restrictions. Meanwhile, Puerto Rico’s Luis Muñoz MarÃn International Airport confirmed that most U.S. airline flights have been temporarily suspended or subject to cancellation per FAA order.
European airlines also experienced delays and cancellations. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has reported departure cancellations and delays due to airspace closures and rerouting challenges in skies over the Caribbean and northern South America. Passengers were urged to check flight status on airline websites and mobile apps as airlines scramble to adjust schedules.
It was not immediately clear how long flight disruptions in the region would last.
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Topics covered in this article
Airlines and Airports Caribbean
