In the wake of a U.S. military strike on Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, travelers across the Caribbean and beyond are feeling the impacts.
Hundreds of canceled flights and shaken holiday plans have left many wondering how rising international tensions might impact their travel.
Here’s what you need to know about travel disruptions, airspace restrictions and where to confirm official updates.
Airspace closures spark widespread flight cancellations
Following the strike, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration issued emergency flight restrictions on Jan. 3 over parts of the Caribbean and nearby airspace, citing “safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing military activity,” Airways Mag reported.
The restrictions led to hundreds of canceled flights across major U.S. carriers including American, Delta, United, Frontier, Spirit and JetBlue.
Popular destinations such as Puerto Rico, Aruba and the British Virgin Islands were among nearly two dozen locations included in the restrictions., AP News reported.
The FAA lifted airspace restrictions Sunday, Jan. 4, allowing airlines to resume normal operations.
However, “normal” operations does not mean without lingering effects.
Though restrictions have lifted, recovery may take several days while carriers play catchup.
According to AP News, some airlines and cruise lines have quickly pivoted to add more services and accommodations after the disruptions.
Southwest Airlines, for example, added six extra round-trip flights to Puerto Rico and eight more to help passengers return home from their vacations, as well as two additional flights to Aruba.
Cruise operator Virgin Voyages said travelers unable to make it to San Juan in time for an upcoming cruise as a result of the restrictions would be able to get a full credit for a future trip.
Flight tracking site FlightAware reported widespread disruptions on Saturday with 40 flights canceled at Boston’s Logan International Airport.
Caribbean travel was particularly affected: 16 flights to and from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and 14 to and from Aruba were grounded, along with cancellations at airports in the U.S.
Bradley International Airport in Connecticut also saw eight cancellations to San Juan.
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