A recent U.S. military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro early Saturday significantly disrupted travel across the Caribbean during a peak holiday period.
As reported by FlightRadar24.com, there were no flights operating over Venezuela that day. Major airlines reacted by canceling hundreds of flights in the Eastern Caribbean and warned passengers of ongoing disruptions following the Federal Aviation Administration’s imposed restrictions.
Flights to and from several locations, including Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Aruba, were canceled, with airlines waiving change fees for those needing to adjust their travel plans.
However, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Saturday evening that the restrictions would lift at midnight ET, allowing airlines to return to regular operations the following day.
Southwest Airlines quickly responded by adding six round-trip flights to Puerto Rico and more flights to Aruba to aid travelers attempting to return home.
At Aruba’s Queen Beatrix Airport, officials expressed confidence that operations would normalize by Sunday after a chaotic day of flight cancellations left many travelers stranded.
In Barbados, Prime Minister Mia Mottley disclosed during a news conference that the military action had caused substantial disruptions at both airports and ports used by cruise ships.
Meanwhile, in Puerto Rico, Lou Levin and his family were affected dramatically when they discovered their scheduled flight to Washington, D.C., had been canceled. After some difficulty contacting JetBlue for a rescheduling, they eventually secured a new flight that extended their holiday unexpectedly.
Levin, a manager in the tech sector, acknowledged the inconvenience, noting that while he appreciated having a flexible employer, his daughter would miss school and their finances would take a hit due to extra expenses for pets and rental cars.
The Levins were eager to find an earlier flight home if possible.
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The American Automobile Association (AAA) had projected that around 122.4 million Americans would travel at least 80 miles from home. Although this weekend marked the end of a busy 13-day holiday period, many were still keen to enjoy the Caribbean beaches before returning to colder climates.
“This time of year, the Caribbean sees a lot of travelers,” stated AAA spokesperson Aisha Diaz, emphasizing the importance of staying updated through airline alerts.
At Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, nearly 60% of flights were canceled due to the ongoing situation, complicating travel plans significantly.
While foreign airlines were not affected by the FAA’s restrictions, some Canadian airlines took precautionary steps by altering their schedules. For instance, Air Canada maintained normal operations to the Caribbean but offered rebooking options, while WestJet canceled its flights to Aruba.
Major U.S. airlines adjusted their schedules, with JetBlue Airways canceling about 215 flights due to the airspace closures related to military operations.
Destinations further west, like the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, remained largely unaffected by the cancellations. Dutch airline KLM also announced it would resume its services to popular destinations as operations normalized.
The recent disruptions also impacted travelers booked on Caribbean cruises, as Virgin Voyages offered affected airline passengers full credit for future trips if they couldn’t make it to San Juan in time.
