Caribbean Travelers Stranded After US Military Operation Disrupts Airspace

Travelers across the Caribbean were left stranded over the weekend after a US military operation tied to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro triggered a temporary closure of Caribbean airspace, forcing airlines to cancel hundreds of flights during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

According to aviation data firm Cirium, more than 425 flights were canceled Saturday in and out of the Caribbean, with over half involving Puerto Rico. The Federal Aviation Administration later lifted the restrictions, but the disruption left thousands of passengers scrambling for information, accommodations, and new travel plans.

Julie Hurwitz was among those affected after her Delta Air Lines flight from the US Virgin Islands to Atlanta was canceled with little notice. Traveling with extended family, Hurwitz said she learned about the situation largely through other stranded travelers rather than official updates. Her group of 12 was forced to search for lodging, even considering camping, as work schedules and family plans were disrupted.

Similar confusion unfolded elsewhere in the region. Travelers in Anguilla and Saint Maarten described learning of flight cancellations through word of mouth, as ferry crossings and airport departures were suddenly halted. Some passengers reported hearing only vague references to US military action as the reason for the shutdown.

Airlines have since moved quickly to add capacity. Delta, which recorded the most cancellations among US carriers over the weekend, says it added more than 2,600 seats through extra Caribbean flights and hopes to rebook all affected customers by Tuesday. American Airlines announced nearly 7,000 additional seats through 43 extra flights, including larger aircraft such as Boeing 777-300s on key routes.

United, JetBlue, and Southwest also say they are increasing flights and aircraft size to help ease the backlog. By Sunday, flight operations were beginning to normalize, with cancellations at Puerto Rico’s main airport dropping sharply compared to Saturday.

Among those impacted by the disruption was actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who missed the Palm Springs International Film Festival after his flight from St. Barts was grounded.

While airlines say they are making progress, some travelers remain cautiously optimistic as they wait to see whether newly scheduled flights depart as planned.

Credit: CNN Newsource
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