Commercial air travel to and from Puerto Rico was disrupted on Saturday, January 3, after federal authorities temporarily banned US airline operations at several Caribbean airports, citing security concerns related to increased military activity in Venezuela.
The pause includes Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU), the Caribbean’s busiest hub, as well as airports in Ceiba, Aguadilla, Ponce, Isla Grande, Vics and Culebra, according to Norberto Negron Diaz, executive director of the Puerto Rico Ports Authority.
Acting under orders from the Federal Aviation Administration, commercial passenger and cargo operations were suspended until 1 a.m. Sunday, January 4, with the possibility of an extension.
How many flights have been canceled from Puerto Rico?
According to flight-tracking website FlightAware, more than 300 departing and arriving flights have been canceled by midday on January 3.
Aerostar Airport Holdings, which manages SJU, said the temporary airspace restriction arises because of “the security situation related to military activity in Venezuela.” The operator warned that most flights operated by US airlines to and from San Juan were suspended or subject to cancellation, while flights by foreign airlines and military aircraft were not affected. The company urged passengers to check flight status directly with their airlines before heading to the airport.
Puerto Rico Governor Jennifer Gonzalez described the shutdown as a national security measure during a radio interview, as reported by local news outlet El Nuevo Día. He said that local bodies are coordinating with federal partners for airport and cargo operations.
Travel discounts
Many US airlines rolled out fee waivers and flexible rebooking options as airspace restrictions disrupted flights to Puerto Rico and other Caribbean destinations. Here’s what travelers need to know:
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American Airlines: Change fees are waived for customers booked on January 2 and planning to travel on January 3-4, 2026 to affected destinations including San Juan (SJU), Aruba (AUA), Antigua (ANU), St. Thomas (STT), St. Maarten (SXM) and more. The journey can be rebooked through January 9, provided the origin and destination remain the same and the ticket is reissued on January 4.
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JetBlue: Customers traveling to or from affected airports including San Juan (SJU), Aguadilla (BQN), Ponce (PSE), Aruba (AUA), Curaçao (CUR) and St. Lucia (UVF) on January 3-4 can change or cancel flights without charge or fare difference. Rebooking is allowed until January 10, and refunds are available for canceled flights if booked before January 3.
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Southwest Airlines: Saturday, January 3, flights to Aruba (AUA), Punta Cana (PUJ) and San Juan (SJU) may be disrupted. Customers can rebook or standby travel within 14 days without paying fare difference. Refunds may be available for flights that are canceled or significantly delayed.
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United Airlines: United is waiving change fees and fare differences on eligible tickets purchased through January 2 and scheduled for travel January 4-6, 2026 to or from destinations including San Juan (SJU), Antigua (ANU), Aruba (AUA) and St. Thomas (STT). New trips must depart between January 6 and January 13.
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Frontier Airlines: Change and cancellation fees are waived for flights to or from San Juan (SJU), Ponce (PSE), Aguadilla (BQN), Aruba (AUA) and St. Maarten (SXM) on January 3-4. Fare differences may still apply, and canceled trips are converted to travel credit.
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Spirit Airlines: Amendment fees and fare differences are waived for flights to San Juan (SJU), Aruba (AUA), St. Croix (STX), St. Thomas (STT) and St. Maarten (SXM) Jan. 3-4, with rebooking allowed until Jan. 11.
Airlines advise passengers to closely monitor flight status and manage changes directly through their carrier.
Contributing: Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why flights to and from Puerto Rico were suddenly grounded
