US military operation in Venezuela disrupts Caribbean holiday travel, hundreds of flights canceled
WTOP••world
Key Points:
- The Federal Aviation Administration imposed flight restrictions over Venezuela due to military activity, leading to hundreds of canceled flights across the eastern Caribbean, affecting destinations like Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Aruba.
- U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the restrictions would lift at midnight EST, allowing airlines to resume normal operations on Sunday, with carriers like Southwest Airlines adding extra flights to assist stranded travelers.
- The cancellations caused significant disruptions for passengers, including extended vacations and unexpected expenses, as seen in the case of a family delayed in Puerto Rico, while local officials in Aruba and Barbados reported operational challenges at airports and seaports.
- Major airlines, including JetBlue and KLM, canceled numerous flights due to airspace closures, impacting nearly two dozen island
