The FAA officially reopened commercial airspace in the eastern Caribbean on Sunday, about 24 hours after U.S. military intervention in Venezuela forced the cancellation of hundreds of flights in the region.
A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued early Saturday morning prohibiting commercial flying expired at midnight on Sunday, allowing airports in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Aruba, Sint Maarten, and other islands to resume normal operations. Delays lingered into Sunday, but by Monday morning there were no significant travel disruptions at any major Caribbean airport, according to data from tracking website FlightAware.
Some airlines have added flights and expanded capacity to help stranded vacationers and other travelers return home.
American said Sunday that it will add approximately 7,000 seats on 43 extra flights and dispatch additional aircraft, including a Boeing 777-300, to the region. On Monday, the airline will operate round-trip flights between seven Caribbean destinations – the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Barbados, Bonaire, Dominica, Grenada, and St. Kitts and Nevis – and Miami.
American will also offer temporary interisland service linking the British Virgin Islands and Anguilla with San Juan.
Delta plans to add over 2,600 seats on extra flights to and from the Caribbean on Monday.
“Delta teams are working to ensure all affected customers are reaccommodated by Tuesday, Jan. 6,” the carrier said in a statement. “Some delays in Caribbean markets could occur Monday due to increased airline capacity, however Delta’s teams are coordinating to support customers with tight hub connections.”
The airline recommends passengers with confirmed tickets arrive at affected airports about three hours early to allow for additional traffic.
After months of mounting tensions, the U.S. military on Saturday bombed numerous sites across Venezuela, mainly telecommunications and military facilities, and captured the country’s president, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife. The two were detained at the presidential palace in Caracas and flown to New York, where they remain in custody.
The U.S. Justice Department said Maduro and his wife face several criminal charges, including drug trafficking and “narcoterrorism.”
Mass cancellations followed through Saturday, affecting the tail end of the busy holiday travel season. Some stranded passengers told news outlets that they were not able to book replacement flights until later this week.
