In the wake of the dramatic capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reopened the Eastern Caribbean airspace. However, many American tourists continue to find themselves stranded across the region. As airlines rushed to add flights on Sunday to facilitate the safe return of travelers from the Caribbean, individuals such as Nydia Han, an anchor and reporter for ABC Philadelphia station WPVI, reported their difficulties in securing a flight home.
Han expressed her frustration, stating that she and her family were scheduled to fly from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Philadelphia on Sunday night. Unfortunately, after receiving information from the airlines, they learned that their flight had been postponed until Friday. "Because of Maduro's capture and the airspace being closed, we are stuck here in Vieques," Han shared in a video posted to ABC News.
The FAA issued a crucial notice to airlines early Saturday, known as a notice to airmen (NOTAM), which prohibited flights from entering the Eastern Caribbean airspace due to safety concerns linked to ongoing military activities. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy later confirmed via social media that this airspace ban would end at midnight Eastern Time on Sunday.
During the airspace closure, major U.S. airlines—including Southwest, JetBlue, United, Delta, and American Airlines—were forced to cancel hundreds of flights. Now, these carriers are working diligently to accommodate affected travelers by adding additional flights to the region. Popular Caribbean destinations such as Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, St. Martin, and St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands also experienced flight cancellations due to the ban, though some airports are gradually returning to normal operations.
According to FlightRadar24, flights began arriving and departing from the Queen Beatrix International Airport in Oranjestad, Aruba, indicating a return to normalcy. In response to the surge in demand, American Airlines announced it would be adding 5,000 additional seats to its Caribbean routes and deploying a Boeing 777-300, the largest aircraft in its fleet, to help accommodate stranded customers.
On Sunday alone, approximately 29 flights into and out of Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in Puerto Rico were canceled, a significant reduction compared to the 400 flights that faced cancellations on Saturday. This reduction in cancellations brings a glimmer of hope for travelers eager to return home.
Among those affected is Billy Gunther from Florida, who, along with his wife, found themselves stranded as newlyweds wrapping up their stay at an Airbnb in Puerto Rico when they received notification of their flight cancellation. Gunther informed ABC affiliate station WZVN in Naples, Florida, that it may take another three days before they can secure a flight back home. He mentioned that many other tourists are in a similar predicament, leading to widespread anxiety among those uncertain about their travel plans.
The situation remains fluid as airlines strive to restore normalcy in the region's air travel. Many travelers are left hoping for swift resolutions to their flight issues as they await updates from their airlines.