Commercial air traffic to Puerto Rico was suspended on Saturday, January 3, after federal authorities temporarily restricted U.S. airline operations at several Caribbean airports, citing security concerns related to increased military activity in Venezuela.
The suspension includes Luis Muñoz MarÃn International Airport (SJU), the Caribbean’s busiest hub, as well as airports in Ceiba, Aguadilla, Ponce, Isla Grande, Vieques and Culebra, said Puerto Rico Port Authority Executive Director Norberto Negron Diaz.
Based on the Federal Aviation Administration’s order, commercial passenger and cargo operations will be suspended until 1 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 4, with the possibility of extension.
How many flights from Puerto Rico to Puerto Rico were cancelled?
More than 300 flights to and from the island had been canceled as of midday on January 3, according to aviation tracking website FlightAware.
Aerostar Airport Holdings, which manages SJU, said the temporary airspace restrictions were due to “the security situation related to military activities in Venezuela.” The airline warned that most flights to and from San Juan operated by U.S. carriers are suspended or may be cancelled, but flights by foreign airlines or military aircraft are not affected. The company urged travelers to check flight status directly with airlines before heading to the airport.
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.
travel exemption
Several U.S. airlines have rolled out fee waivers and flexible rebooking options as airspace restrictions disrupt flights to and from Puerto Rico and other Caribbean destinations. Here’s what travelers need to know:
American Airlines: Change fees will be waived for customers who book by January 2 and plan to travel to or from affected destinations including San Juan (SJU), Aruba (AUA), Antigua (ANU), St. Thomas (STT), St. Maarten (SXM) and more on January 3-4, 2026. Rebooking of travel is possible until January 9th, provided the origin and destination are the same and the ticket is reissued by January 4th. JetBlue: From January 3rd to 4th, customers flying to and from affected airports (including San Juan (SJU), Aguadilla (BQN), Ponce (PSE), Aruba (AUA), Curacao (CUR), and St. Lucia (UVF)) can change or cancel their flights without any fees or fare differences. Rebooking is available until January 10th, and refunds are available for canceled flights if booked by January 3rd. Southwest Airlines: Flights scheduled for Saturday, January 3 to Aruba (AUA), Punta Cana (PUJ), and San Juan (SJU) may be affected. Customers have 14 days to rebook or standby their trip without paying the fare difference. Refunds may be available for flights that are canceled or significantly delayed. United Airlines: United Airlines is waiving change fees and fare differences on eligible tickets purchased by January 2 to destinations including San Juan (SJU), Antigua (ANU), Aruba (AUA) and St. Thomas (STT) from January 4 to 6, 2026. New trips must depart between January 6th and January 13th. Frontier Airlines: Change and cancellation fees will be waived on flights to and from San Juan (SJU), Ponce (PSE), Aguadilla (BQN), Aruba (AUA) and St. Maarten (SXM) from January 3rd to 4th. Fare differences may still apply and canceled trips will be converted to travel credits. Spirit Airlines: Flights to and from San Juan (SJU), Aruba (AUA), St. Croix (STX), St. Thomas (STT) and St. Maarten (SXM) from January 3rd to 4th will have change fees and fare differences waived and can be rebooked through January 11th.
Airlines advise travelers to closely monitor flight status and manage changes directly through the airline.
Contributor: Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY
