U.S. airlines resumed flights to Puerto Rico and other Caribbean destinations early Sunday after the Federal Aviation Administration lifted temporary airspace restrictions that had been imposed following military strikes in Venezuela.
The FAA had closed airspace over Venezuela and parts of the Eastern Caribbean on Saturday following the U.S. military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The restrictions forced airlines to cancel hundreds of flights, stranding thousands of travelers at the end of the busy holiday period.
Nearly 300 flights to and from San Juan's Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport alone were canceled on Saturday, affecting travelers across multiple carriers including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on social media that "the original restrictions around the Caribbean airspace are expiring at 12:00 am ET, and flights can resume." The airspace closures affecting the San Juan, Curacao, Piarco, and Maiquetia flight information regions were officially lifted as of January 4 at 05:01 UTC.
Airports in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Barbados, Aruba, and numerous other Caribbean destinations had been affected by the closure. Most commercial flights operated by U.S. airlines were suspended, though foreign carriers and military aircraft were not included in the restrictions.
Airlines scrambled to accommodate affected passengers and restore normal operations. Delta Air Lines issued a travel waiver for customers traveling to or from 13 affected airports between January 3 and 6. JetBlue announced it would waive change and cancellation fees for customers traveling between January 3 and 4.
American Airlines, which operates a major hub in Miami serving Caribbean routes, worked to rebook passengers on the next available flights. The carrier had preemptively canceled dozens of flights on Saturday in compliance with the FAA mandate.
Industry analysts estimated that the one-day closure cost airlines tens of millions of dollars in lost revenue and created a significant backlog of passengers requiring rebooking. The disruption came at a particularly challenging time, as many travelers were returning home after the New Year holiday period.
The FAA has issued an advisory notice for the region, urging pilots to exercise caution and stay informed about any developing situations. Airlines have stated they will continue monitoring conditions in the region as diplomatic tensions remain elevated following the Venezuela operation.
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