Caribbean Flights Resume as U.S. Ends Airspace Restrictions After Venezuela Operation

An American Airlines plane arrives at LaGuardia Airport in the Queens borough of New York City.

The United States has lifted emergency airspace restrictions over the Caribbean following a major military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. The curbs, which had halted hundreds of commercial flights across the region, expired at midnight Eastern Time, allowing airlines to begin restoring normal service.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that carriers were notified immediately once the restrictions ended, enabling them to update schedules and restart operations. Major airlines—including United, American, and Delta—began preparing flights to Puerto Rico and other Caribbean destinations as early as Saturday night.

The temporary shutdown was triggered by U.S. airstrikes in and around Caracas during a pre‑dawn raid in which special forces seized Maduro and his wife. Both were transported to New York City, where they now face drug‑trafficking and weapons charges.

While flights are resuming, officials cautioned that it may take several days for full schedules to normalize due to the scale of earlier cancellations. International carriers across Europe and South America were also affected by the sudden closure.