The United States announced that temporary flight restrictions over parts of the Caribbean—introduced after its military operation in Venezuela—expired at midnight ET (1pm Malaysian time). Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that airlines were officially allowed to resume flights, with major carriers working quickly to update schedules.
The restrictions led to hundreds of cancelled flights following the US attack on Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolas Maduro. Airlines like United Airlines and Delta Air Lines immediately began preparing to restart their Caribbean routes.
United said its first flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico, was set for Saturday night, adding that it expected the majority of regular services to resume by Sunday. Delta said it would return to its normal Caribbean schedule, though some adjustments were needed to reposition aircraft and staff.
Still, industry experts warned that it may take days before travel patterns fully stabilise. Aviation analyst Robert Mann noted that airlines are now dealing with “a day’s worth of stranded passengers” waiting to get home or continue travelling.
Airlines including American Airlines, United, Delta, Frontier, Spirit, and JetBlue had earlier suspended operations after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) closed affected Caribbean airspace because of safety risks linked to the military situation. JetBlue alone cancelled 215 flights.
The FAA also issued warnings to non-US airlines to avoid Venezuelan airspace due to potential military threats, advising British operators about the risk of anti-aircraft weaponry near the Venezuelan border.
European and South American airlines followed suit, cancelling services until conditions improved. The US government said the restrictions would only be lifted when it was safe to do so.
The heightened military presence comes after American forces captured Venezuela’s long-time leader Nicolas Maduro. US President Donald Trump stated that the United States may temporarily oversee the country’s transition and keep forces in the region if needed.
Some airlines offered fee waivers and flexible booking options for affected passengers to help ease the disruption. Air Canada confirmed that its Caribbean and South American routes were operating normally but said it was closely monitoring developments.
Flight tracking data showed commercial aircraft largely avoiding Venezuelan skies following the US operation.
In moments like these, it’s easy to forget that behind every cancelled flight and delayed schedule are real people—families trying to return home, workers needing to get back to their jobs, and travellers caught in uncertainty. While airlines move to restore normality, the human impact remains a powerful reminder of how global events ripple into everyday lives.
