Airlines canceled flights across parts of the Caribbean on Saturday after the United States carried out military strikes on Venezuela, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to order commercial aircraft to avoid airspace in the region.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday that the strikes resulted in the capture and removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The FAA has implemented a ban on U.S.-registered aircraft flying in Venezuelan airspace following reports of military strikes on the country’s capital, Caracas. According to a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), the restriction took effect at 06:00 UTC on January 3, 2026.
Major U.S. airlines confirmed widespread disruptions.
American Airlines said it was closely monitoring the situation.
“American Airlines is aware of the airspace closures in the Eastern Caribbean that were issued in the middle of the night and is closely monitoring the situation with the FAA,” the airline said. “We are making schedule adjustments as necessary with the safety and security of our customers and team members top of mind.”
Southwest Airlines also warned of service disruptions due to the airspace closures. In a notice to customers, the airline said scheduled service on Saturday, January 3, could be delayed, diverted, or canceled for flights to Aruba (AUA), Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ), and San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU).
JetBlue Airways, which has a large operation in the region, said it canceled about 215 flights due to the airspace restrictions.
“JetBlue canceled about 215 flights due to airspace closures across the Caribbean related to military activity,” the airline said, noting that flights to the Dominican Republic and Jamaica were not affected by government restrictions.
Delta Air Lines said it began canceling flights early Saturday morning in compliance with FAA airspace closures.
“As cancellations are processed, customers will receive notifications via the Fly Delta app and contact information listed in their reservation,” Delta said.
In Puerto Rico, Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) confirmed the impact of the FAA restrictions in a statement posted on Instagram.
“At the disposal of the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States (FAA), a temporary restriction of airspace has been issued, including the region of Puerto Rico, as a result of a security situation related to military activity in Venezuela,” the airport said.
“As a result, most commercial flights to and from SJU operated by American airlines are suspended or could be temporarily cancelled. Foreign airlines and military aircraft are not included in this restriction.”
The airport urged passengers to verify flight status directly with their airlines before traveling to the airport.
“Passengers are urged to check the status of their flight directly with their airline before arriving to the airport,” the statement said, adding that Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport will continue to provide official updates as they become available.
Caribbean Airlines, meanwhile, advised that there were no disruptions to its services on Saturday, January 3, 2026, and that operations were continuing as scheduled. The airline reminded customers to register for flight notifications on its website to receive real-time travel updates.
The situation remains fluid as airlines, airports, and aviation authorities continue to assess the impact of the U.S. military action in Venezuela on regional air travel.
