Additional Coverage:
- Thousands of travelers stranded as US strikes on Venezuela push airlines out of Caribbean airspace (businessinsider.com)
Caribbean Airspace Chaos: US Raid on Venezuela Leaves Thousands of Travelers Stranded
A surprise US raid on Venezuela Saturday, which reportedly led to the apprehension of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, has thrown Caribbean air travel into disarray, leaving thousands of passengers, including many students returning for the new semester, stranded across the region.
Following the strikes, Venezuelan airspace was immediately cleared, with Flightradar24 data showing an empty sky above the nation. While US airlines haven’t operated in Venezuelan airspace for years, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) formalized the existing de facto no-fly zone on Saturday.
However, a glimmer of hope emerged late Saturday night when US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced via X that the airspace restrictions would lift at 12 a.m. ET on January 4, allowing commercial flights to resume. “Airlines are informed, and will update their schedules quickly,” Duffy posted, urging affected travelers to work directly with their airlines.
Delta quickly responded, stating it would resume flights early Sunday morning but cautioned that schedule adjustments might occur as resources are repositioned.
Widespread Cancellations and Delays
The impact of the closures wasn’t limited to Venezuela’s immediate vicinity. Airlines also began avoiding nearby southern Caribbean airspace due to heightened security risks. Delta, American Airlines, and Southwest Airlines all confirmed Saturday morning cancellations of flights to various Caribbean destinations.
Students Face Semester Setbacks
The timing of these disruptions has been particularly challenging for students returning to the Caribbean for the start of the new semester.
Catalina Rodriguez, a 34-year-old veterinary student at Ross University School of Medicine in St. Kitts and Nevis, shared her predicament in a TikTok video, expressing uncertainty about her delayed American Airlines flight scheduled for Sunday.
“I don’t know what I’m doing right now,” she said, noting that several classmates are also stuck in airports. “It’s a little stressful for sure.”
Another student, known as “dani la doctorcita” on TikTok, reported her Delta flight to St. Kitts was canceled, adding, “All US flights have been canceled. Delta won’t fly even from Puerto Rico.”
Heightened Risk Assessment
The aviation risk-intelligence firm Osprey Flight Solutions, a widely used industry service, recently escalated its risk assessment for the Southern Caribbean Sea from “moderate” to “high” due to mounting regional tensions. This elevated risk zone encompasses popular destinations such as Puerto Rico, Aruba, Curaçao, the British and US Virgin Islands, Antigua & Barbuda, Saint Thomas, Grenada, Barbados, and parts of Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana. The resulting mass disruptions have left countless travelers in limbo as airlines evaluate safety risks and insurance implications.
Limited Options for Stranded Travelers
For those stranded, options are scarce, and airline assistance is limited. Since these disruptions are a result of government action outside of airline control, carriers are not legally obligated to provide compensation for meals, hotels, or ground transportation under federal law, though some may offer assistance as a gesture of goodwill.
An X user, Nate_F_Thurmond, posted a photo of a group of stranded travelers in St. John, writing, “Passengers stranded in St John just learning that Caribbean Airspace is closed… All this because of Venezuela??”
Rebooking remains the most guaranteed option, but finding alternative accommodations can be a challenge.
While many flights are still grounded, some are operating with significant detours. For instance, American Airlines Flight 1512 from Georgetown, Guyana, to Miami on Saturday, usually flying east of Venezuela, took a westward route around the affected area, adding approximately an hour to its flight time.
For those considering canceling or postponing their Caribbean trips, most major airlines, including Delta, United, American, Southwest, and JetBlue, are waiving change and cancellation fees as the situation unfolds. However, some western Caribbean countries, such as the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, are not currently included on these waiver lists.