Frontier Airlines confirmed a return to normal operations early Sunday, and other U.S. carriers—including American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways—updated online schedules to reflect reinstated service. All six airlines issued broad travel waivers, allowing customers whose itineraries were canceled or delayed to rebook later in January without change fees or fare differences. More than a dozen airports across Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and several smaller Caribbean territories were covered by the waivers.
The disruption followed U.S. strikes in Venezuela on Saturday that, according to President Donald Trump, resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Although commercial airlines have avoided Venezuelan airports for years—American Airlines suspended the last major U.S. flights to the country in 2019—the conflict’s proximity prompted federal authorities to institute precautionary flight restrictions across neighboring airspace.
The FAA routinely bars or limits civil aviation in active conflict zones to prevent inadvertent exposure to military operations. Such restrictions can extend far beyond a battlefield, as illustrated by Saturday’s order that affected flights between the continental United States and popular Caribbean leisure markets. The incident highlighted how quickly geopolitical events can cascade into large-scale disruptions for the commercial aviation sector. For additional context on how the agency manages conflict-related airspace, the FAA’s official guidance outlines procedures for issuing and lifting emergency notices.
Data from flight-tracking services showed widespread cancellations on Saturday evening. In San Juan alone, boards listed dozens of grounded arrivals and departures as airlines hurried to comply with the FAA directive. Airports in St. Thomas, St. Croix and several northern Caribbean islands reported similar stoppages. Industry analysts noted that the timing—coinciding with the post-holiday travel rush—amplified the impact, leaving aircraft out of position and limiting airlines’ flexibility to reaccommodate passengers until the restriction ended.
By early Sunday, operations began to normalize. FlightAware, which monitors global aviation activity, recorded steadily decreasing cancellation figures throughout the morning. United and Delta restored most of their planned Caribbean schedules by midday, while low-cost carriers closed rebooking queues for many affected customers. Airport officials in San Juan said terminal congestion eased as departing aircraft cleared backlogs.
Airlines indicated that residual delays might persist into Monday as crews and equipment return to regular rotations. However, no additional federal restrictions were expected, and the FAA did not issue further advisories affecting routes between the mainland United States and Caribbean territories.
Beyond the immediate operational challenges, Saturday’s events renewed attention on airlines’ exposure to geopolitical risk. The industry has grappled with similar situations in recent years, including airspace closures during conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Analysts suggest carriers will continue to refine contingency planning, particularly for regions where leisure demand intersects with potential security concerns.
For travelers, the sudden stoppage underscored the value of flexible booking policies and real-time flight alerts. Most passengers were able to secure alternate itineraries under the fee waivers announced by the carriers, though limited seat availability extended some rebooking timelines. Airport customer-service agents reported elevated call volumes but said the majority of displaced travelers were expected to reach their destinations by late Sunday or early Monday.
Crédito da imagem: Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo / AFP / Getty Images
