Puerto Rico Airspace Grounded in Security Lockdown
Puerto Rico’s skies went dead on January 3 as San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport shut down all flights. Over 150 departures and 140 arrivals were axed instantly. Regional airports in Ceiba, Aguadilla, Ponce, Vieques, and Culebra also threw in the towel with flight suspensions.
Governor Jenniffer González slammed the shutdown as a “national security measure.” She promised local and federal agencies are working together behind the scenes. Flights won’t resume until at least 1 a.m. on January 4, she confirmed.
Caribbean Airlines in Chaos
JetBlue flagged major travel chaos across 15 Caribbean cities including Antigua, Aruba, Barbados, and multiple Puerto Rican airports. Stranded travellers can rebook flights up to January 10 or claim full refunds. Here’s the hit list:
- Aguadilla, Puerto Rico (BQN)
- Antigua (ANU)
- Aruba (AUA)
- Bonaire (BON)
- Barbados (BGI)
- Curacao (CUR)
- Georgetown, Guyana (GEO)
- Grenada (GND)
- Ponce, Puerto Rico (PSE)
- Port of Spain, Trinidad (POS)
- San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU)
- St. Croix, US Virgin Islands (STX)
- St. Lucia (UVF)
- St. Maarten (SXM)
- St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands (STT)
American Airlines felt the blow too, canceling flights to 19 destinations, including Anguilla, Martinique, Dominica, and Saint Kitts. They have waived change fees on tickets bought before January 2 and traveling between January 2-9.
More Airlines Ground Caribbean Flights
- Delta Air Lines kicked off cancellations early on January 3, keeping a close eye on the unfolding crisis.
- Southwest Airlines halted flights in Aruba, Punta Cana, and San Juan. The airline offers free rebooking or standby options within 14 days.
- Frontier Airlines axed flights from five Caribbean cities including San Juan and Saint Martin. They’re waiving change fees but demand fare difference payments, offering travel credits for cancellations.
- Spirit Airlines followed with cancellations from five key Caribbean hubs, allowing rebookings through January 11.
US-Venezuela Tensions Spark Caribbean Travel Turmoil
Heavy US strikes and the capture of Nicolás Maduro have sent shockwaves through Caribbean air travel. Airlines urge passengers to check flight status and rebooking options amid ongoing airspace lockdowns.
