> At a Glance
> – Maduro captured and flown out, sparking widespread flight cancellations.
> – No flights crossed over Venezuela that day; airlines cut hundreds of Caribbean routes.
> – Restrictions lifted at midnight EST, with airlines adding extra flights.
> – Why it matters: Travelers were stranded and airlines scrambled to rebook.
The U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and flew him out of the country early Saturday also disrupted Caribbean travel at a busy travel time for the region.
Flight Disruptions Across the Caribbean
Flights over Venezuela were halted, and no airline flights crossed that day. Airlines canceled hundreds of flights and warned passengers that disruptions could last days. Flights were cut to and from Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Aruba, and more than a dozen Lesser Antilles destinations, with airlines waiving change fees.
- Puerto Rico
- Virgin Islands
- Aruba
- Lesser Antilles
Airline Responses
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy
> “The restrictions would end at midnight EST, and airlines can resume normal operations Sunday.”
Southwest Airlines
> “We added six extra round-trip flights to Puerto Rico on Sunday and two more to Aruba.”
Other carriers reacted similarly.
Air Canada
> “Air Canada said its flights to the Caribbean were operating normally, though it gave travelers an option to rebook.”
WestJet
> “WestJet canceled Aruba flights “out of an abundance of caution.””
JetBlue
> “JetBlue canceled about 215 flights “due to airspace closures across the Caribbean related to military activity.””
KLM
> “KLM canceled flights affecting thousands of passengers but planned to resume service Sunday to and from Curacao, Aruba, Bonaire and other islands.”
Virgin Voyages
> “Virgin Voyages offered full credit to travelers who missed San Juan for an upcoming cruise.”
Traveler Stories
Lou Levine
> “I love it here. But we have dog-sitting and cat-sitting and car rental. It’s fine. It’s just really painful on the wallet.”
The Levines had their flight canceled and were forced to reschedule, incurring extra costs and causing their daughter to miss a week of school. At Queen Beatrix airport, officials expected normal operations Sunday after a day of cancellations that stranded travelers. Prime Minister Mia Mottley said the conflict had been “exceedingly disruptive to both of our ports of entry.” AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz warned that many travelers were still trying to get home before work and school on Monday, urging them to stay alert. Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport announced that restrictions were put in place because of the “security situation related to military activity” in Venezuela.
| Destination | Flights Cancelled | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Puerto Rico | Hundreds | Major disruption |
| Virgin Islands | Hundreds | Major disruption |
| Aruba | Hundreds | Major disruption |
| Lesser Antilles | Hundreds | Major disruption |
| Luis Muñoz Marín (San Juan) | 60% | Major disruption |
Key Takeaways
- Maduro’s capture triggered widespread Caribbean flight cancellations.
- Airlines added extra flights and waived change fees to mitigate disruptions.
- Travelers faced stranded situations, extra costs, and missed school days.
The operation’s ripple effect on Caribbean travel shows how quickly plans can be disrupted by geopolitical events.
