US Lifts Caribbean Airspace Curbs After Venezuela Attack
The United States said late Saturday that temporary restrictions on Caribbean airspace imposed after US military action in Venezuela would expire at midnight Eastern Time, clearing the way for airlines to resume flights as schedules are updated.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on X that the curbs would end at 12:00 a.m following widespread flight disruptions triggered by the earlier closure.
The Federal Aviation Administration had closed Caribbean airspace to US carriers amid the military operation and advised non-US airlines to avoid areas near Venezuelan airspace. The measures led to hundreds of cancellations and delays across the region on Saturday.
Major carriers including United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Spirit Airlines said they were preparing to restart Caribbean services by Sunday.
The disruptions followed US strikes in Venezuela and the capture of the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro, events that prompted heightened security measures for civilian aviation.
Passengers across the Caribbean and the US mainland reported lengthy delays, with some spending hours inside terminals after flights were grounded. At Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport near San Juan, Puerto Rico, travelers were seen resting on terminal floors as airlines worked to rebook passengers.
Airlines said they would continue to monitor official advisories as operations return to normal, cautioning that residual delays could persist as aircraft and crews are repositioned.
This story was first published by Antigua News on : antigua.news/2026/01/04/us-lifts-caribbean-airspace-curbs-after-venezuela-attack. © 2026 Antigua News. Republication without permission is not allowed.
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