The Federal Aviation Administration has lifted temporary flight restrictions over Caribbean airspace that were put in place after the United States conducted strikes on Venezuela on Saturday. The ban expired at midnight Sunday, allowing commercial flights to resume, though many carriers now face a backlog of delayed or canceled services.
Details
The FAA said the temporary restrictions were removed at midnight Sunday. Airlines have been notified and are working to restore normal schedules, but passengers should expect some continued delays and rescheduling as carriers recover from the disruption.
"Airlines are informed, and will update their schedules quickly. Please continue to work with your airline if your flight was affected by the restrictions," Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote on X.
Impact and Recovery
Travel adviser Mark Murphy told NewsNation's Morning in America that the suspension created a domino effect of missed inbound and outbound flights. He predicted roughly a 36-hour window for airlines to work through the backlog and return to regular operations.
"Even though they've been lifted, you had the planes that were going to come in that didn't come in, and now you've got a backlog of people leaving. I think by Tuesday, everything will be back on track completely," Murphy said.
Flight tracking service FlightAware reported that by Saturday afternoon more than 60% of scheduled flights to three popular Caribbean destinations had been canceled. Multiple airlines issued statements acknowledging the disruption and outlining steps to accommodate affected passengers, including refunds, rebookings and customer service support.
What Travelers Should Do
If your travel plans were affected, contact your carrier directly to confirm the status of your flight, review rebooking options, and request assistance as needed. Expect staggered schedule updates as airlines clear the backlog over the next day or two.
For the latest updates on schedules and airline guidance, check your carrier's website or official communications.
