Travel alert: Caribbean flights canceled as airspace closed near Venezuela

Traveling to or from the Caribbean? The military strike on Venezuela may get in your way.

Dozens of flights have been canceled at Caribbean destinations because the FAA closed airspace as the U.S. took action against the country and seized President Nicolás Maduro. The delays and cancellations are also affecting the airports in Miami and Fort Lauderdale.

“In support of the Department of War, the FAA restricted the airspace in the Caribbean and Venezuela to ensure the safety of the flying public,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement. “When appropriate, these airspace restrictions will be lifted.”

American Airlines says the airspace shutdown is affecting flights to 19 destinations in the Eastern Caribbean, including Aruba; Curaçao; San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands; and Trinidad and Tobago.

Passengers crowded the terminal at Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in Puerto Rico after flights were canceled following the U.S. military action in Venezuela.

“American Airlines is aware of the airspace closures in the Eastern Caribbean that were issued in the middle of the night and is closely monitoring the situation with the FAA,” the carrier said in a statement. “We are making schedule adjustments as necessary with the safety and security of our customers and team members top of mind.”

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The airline said passengers may be eligible to have a change fee waived.

As of noon Saturday, Miami International Airport listed a total of 157 delays and 56 cancellations, according to the tracker FlightAware, and FLL listed 155 delays and 58 cancellations.

In a statement Saturday, Miami International confirmed “some flights at MIA are being affected.” MIA suggested that passengers check their flight status with their airline before heading to the airport.

JetBlue, which serves Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, told CNBC that it canceled more than 200 flights to the Caribbean, but that the Dominican Republic and Jamaica are not affected. Major U.S. airlines don’t serve Venezuela directly.

The Federal Aviation Administration issued the emergency notice early Saturday that bars U.S. carriers from flying near Venezuela and portions of the Caribbean. There was no immediate information on when the airspace will reopen.

American Airlines’ flight delays and cancellations

Flights to and from these destinations are affected, according to American Airlines:

•Anguilla Wallblake, Anguilla (AXA)

•Antigua, Antigua (ANU)

•Argyle, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVD)

•Aruba, Aruba (AUA)

•Beef Island, British Virgin Islands (EIS)

•Bonaire, Bonaire (BON)

•Bridgetown, Barbados (BGI)

•Curacao, Curacao (CUR)

•Fort de France, Martinique (FDF)

•Grenada, Grenada (GND)

•Melville Hall, Dominica (DOM)

•Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe (PTP)

•Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (POS)

•San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU)

•St. Croix Island, U.S. Virgin Islands (STX)

•St. Kitts, Saint Kitts and Nevis (SKB)

•St. Lucia, Saint Lucia (UVF)

•St. Maarten, Saint Maarten (SXM)

•St. Thomas Island, U.S. Virgin Islands (STT)

How to track your flight at MIA and FLL

Miami: One of the MIA flight trackers shows a list of all expected arrivals and departures with options to use a drop-down menu to narrow results. It displays the carrier, flight number and where the plane is going to or coming from. It also gives real-time updates on the flight’s arrival or departure status, which concourse the terminal is in and the location of baggage claim. The other online tool lets you track by flight or route. If you know the carrier, the date and the flight number, this tool might be easier to use because it will only show information for your flight.

Fort Lauderdale: FLL’s flight tracker works by flight or route. You’ll need to know the date, along with the airline carrier and flight number or the departure and arrival airport. The tool also gives people the option to see a list of all expected arrivals and departures and details on the flight’s terminal and baggage claim, too.You can also check your flight status with the airline directly, which might be easier to do through the airline’s app. But you can also check via the airline’s website.

This story was originally published January 3, 2026 at 10:08 AM with the headline "Travel alert: Caribbean flights canceled as airspace closed near Venezuela."