US action on Venezuela grounds flights across the Caribbean

Flights across the Caribbean were thrown into chaos over the weekend after US military action in Venezuela raised safety concerns in the region’s airspace.

US aviation officials temporarily blocked airlines from flying in parts of the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico. The move took effect early Saturday and quickly led to widespread cancellations.

European aviation authorities issued similar warnings, further disrupting air travel. Airlines rushed to cancel or reroute flights, leaving many passengers stuck.

By Saturday afternoon, about 200 flights, nearly 60% of all departures from San Juan’s main airport, were canceled, according to FlightAware. Other airports in Puerto Rico, Aruba, and the Virgin Islands also reported cancellations.

The restrictions were lifted by the Federal Aviation Administration on Sunday, but the flight disruption will take time to resolve.

Airlines have added flights to meet demand. American Airlines is flying 43 additional flights. Meanwhile, Delta and Southwest have also increased capacity.