On January 3, 2026, major disruptions hit commercial aviation across parts of the Caribbean, northern South America and U.S.-linked routes after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued emergency airspace restrictions tied to U.S. military strikes in Venezuela.
In response to the military action, the FAA ordered commercial aircraft to avoid airspace in parts of the region, resulting in a wave of flight cancellations and delays around the Caribbean.
U.S. carriers, including American Airlines, JetBlue, Delta Air Lines, Southwest and United Airlines pulled back service, particularly to destinations that route near or through Venezuelan and Caribbean airspace. JetBlue alone canceled hundreds of flights to core leisure markets such as San Juan, St. Thomas, Punta Cana, Barbados and Aruba, among others.
A statement from American Airlines noted the delays.
“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. We are making schedule adjustments as necessary with the safety and security of our customers and team members top of mind.”
Several airports reported severe schedule disruptions — at Miami International Airport there were dozens of cancellations and nearly 150 delays as airlines adapted to the restrictions — while Puerto Rico’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport confirmed that most U.S. carrier flights were either temporarily halted or subject to cancellation by FAA order.
European carriers also experienced delays and cancellations. KLM reported cancelled departures and delays due to airspace closures and rerouting challenges in Caribbean and northern South American skies. Passengers were being advised to check flight statuses via airline websites and mobile apps as carriers scrambled to adjust schedules.
It was not immediately clear how long the disruptions to flights in the region would last.
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