Flights across the Caribbean gradually resumed early Sunday, 4 January, after airspace restrictions linked to Venezuela were lifted, according to the US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
The disruption followed a US military operation aimed at capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Both Maduro and his wife were subsequently transported to the United States.
The aviation impact was, however, immediate and widespread. Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24.com showed that no commercial aircraft crossed Venezuelan airspace on Saturday. Major carriers, including American Airlines, Delta, United, Frontier, Spirit, and JetBlue, cancelled hundreds of flights after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a notice citing “safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing military activity.” Non-US carriers were also advised to avoid the region.
1/2 🇨🇴✈️ #Comunicado | Informamos que el espacio aéreo de Venezuela está abierto y operativo, sin restricciones que afecten la seguridad.
— Aeronáutica Civil (@AerocivilCol) December 1, 2025
⚠️ Rechazamos pronunciamientos de terceros Estados sin competencia que generan incertidumbre y vulneran normas OACI. pic.twitter.com/R0HcRRVbzl
The shutdown left thousands of travellers stranded during one of the busiest travel periods of the year. According to AAA, an estimated 122.4 million Americans were expected to travel during the two-week holiday season. “The Caribbean is a top destination this time of year,” said AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz. “We do have a lot of people who are trying to get back home this weekend ahead of work and school on Monday.”
Routes to and from Puerto Rico were particularly affected, with nearly 60% of flights cancelled on Saturday, according to aviation data. Services to the Virgin Islands, Aruba and a dozen other destinations in the Lesser Antilles islands north of Venezuela were also disrupted.
Thousands of travelers were stranded across the Caribbean after the military operation that captured Venezuela's Pres. Maduro, which canceled and delayed hundreds of flights in the region. @Morganorwood reports as airlines scramble to get back on track. https://t.co/fMocVLKdhi pic.twitter.com/VkX4T3ksZA
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) January 5, 2026
Although major US carriers moved quickly to resume operations, a full return to normal is expected to take several days.
United Airlines successfully operated its first recovery flight to San Juan in Puerto Rico late Saturday night; Delta Air Lines operated its Sunday schedule as planned, using larger aircraft where possible; American Airlines announced that it would add around 3,700 extra seats to compensate for cancellations, and “add as much lift as possible” by operating additional flights and deploying larger aircraft, including wide-body jets.
JetBlue, which operates the most routes in the region, said it had cancelled more than 200 flights on Saturday but has since resumed operations.
To assist travellers, some airlines have also waived change fees and fare differences for those needing to reschedule flights. According to airline analyst Robert Mann, carriers have “about a day’s worth of passengers” stranded across the Caribbean as a result of the shutdown.
Despite these measures, rebooking could take up to a week.
Parents stuck in Puerto Rico because of what happened in Venezuela. American Airlines canceling flights and price gouging. Need to see the media covering this more and get this airspace cleared pronto. pic.twitter.com/6ZssvDpYTP
— New American Vision (@NAV_Creators) January 3, 2026
Several European and South American airlines also cancelled or rerouted flights, offering passengers the option to rebook.
Scheduled departures from San Juan were also affected, particularly for cruise operators who rely on passengers flying in ahead of departure.
The region has faced aviation safety concerns before. In November, a mid-air collision involving a commercial aircraft and a US military refuelling tanker was narrowly avoided near Venezuela.
Although commercial routes are reopening, airlines have warned that further schedule changes remain possible while the situation in Venezuela continues to evolve. On Sunday, President Donald Trump stated that the US would “run the country until such time as we can facilitate a safe, proper and judicious transition,” while Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted that the United States was “not at war with Venezuela.”
Travellers are advised to monitor airline apps and official social media channels for real-time updates.
