Airlines restore Caribbean flights after airspace restrictions lifted
After the US military operation against Venezuela in Carolina, Puerto Rico on January 3, 2026, all flights were canceled and passengers are waiting at Luis Munoz Marin International Airport.
Miguel J. Rodríguez Carrillo | Afp | Getty Images
United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and other carriers began resuming flights to Puerto Rico and other parts of the Caribbean early Sunday after U.S. aviation authorities lifted temporary airspace restrictions imposed in the wake of U.S. strikes on Venezuela.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement that the temporary restrictions will end at midnight Eastern time. Publish on XThis clears the way for airlines to resume most of their scheduled services on Sunday.
“Airlines have been notified and will update their schedules quickly,” Duffy said.
Thousands of travelers were affected at the end of the New Year’s holiday period after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered commercial airliners to avoid parts of the region on Saturday, canceling hundreds of flights.
President Donald Trump said Saturday that the attacks resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
United Airlines It said it would restart service, starting with flights to San Juan, and schedule additional flights on Sunday to accommodate passengers experiencing disruptions. Delta Airlines he said it was Caribbean service continues and we are working to rebook affected customers as schedules normalize.
Border Airlines He also confirmed to CNBC that he was resuming normal operations.
Other airlines affected by temporary restrictions include American Airlines, Southwest Airlines And JetBlue Airlines.
Carriers waived change fees and fare differences if customers affected by the closures rebooked their flights later in the month. More than a dozen airports in the region are exempt.
The brief shutdown underlined how quickly military action can disrupt civilian air travel, forcing airlines to suspend operations well beyond the immediate conflict zone.
Major US airlines have not provided direct service to Venezuela for years. American Airlines was the last major airline to suspend flights to the country in 2019 due to the unrest.
