Last weekend, a significant number of travelers altered their plans to the Caribbean after the U.S. launched airstrikes in Venezuela and detained former leader Nicolas Maduro.
On Saturday night, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy closed the airspace in that region, leading to delays in flight resumption on Sunday. Many flights were grounded in the aftermath of the military operation.
Derek Factol, a dentist with practices in New York and New Jersey, shared with the Post that his family now feels “effectively trapped” in St. Kitts and Nevis until January 15.
During the operation, more than 300 flights were canceled at Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport in Puerto Rico.
Air travel to and from the Caribbean was halted overnight, but flights began to gradually resume on Sunday.
“Our young daughter has been a bit under the weather, and we’re trying our best, but United Airlines isn’t operating outbound flights until January 15,” Factol mentioned.
“With so many people stuck, it’s surprising the government isn’t organizing additional rescue flights. It really doesn’t make sense,” he added.
Duffy’s directive resulted in hundreds of cancellations affecting flights to Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Aruba, and various locations in the Lesser Antilles near Venezuela.
Puerto Rico faced the most significant impact, with about 60% of all flights to and from San Juan’s airport canceled on Saturday.
Airlines like American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines are working to assist stranded passengers, scheduling more flights across the Caribbean on Sunday.
Additionally, airlines are contemplating using larger aircraft—typically used for routes to Europe and Asia—to accommodate the increased demand over the weekend, with new flights quickly selling out.
They’ve also waived change fees and fare differences for those affected by the situation.
Despite the accommodations, many passengers are anxious about being stuck in the Caribbean longer than intended.
Lou Levine, a software company manager, shared that his flight back to Washington, D.C., was canceled, leaving him stranded in Puerto Rico with his wife and three kids.
After struggling to get assistance from JetBlue, Levine turned to social media for help and managed to book a round-trip for the following Saturday.
“I enjoy it here,” Levine said in Puerto Rico. “But with dog and cat sitters and rental cars, it’s a bit stressful financially.”
Other travelers continue to seek clarity on when they might return home.
“I’m kind of lost right now,” Catalina Rodriguez, a veterinary student stuck in Saint Kitts and Nevis, expressed in a TikTok video.
Rodriguez, 34, was supposed to begin her third semester at Florida’s Ross University School of Medicine on Monday. She and her classmates are feeling pretty stranded overseas.
“We’re just waiting to see what happens,” she remarked, admitting it’s been a bit stressful.
In Barbados, Prime Minister Mia Mottley stated during a press conference that “the impact of the conflict has caused significant disruption to ports of entry in both countries.”
