Flights resume to and from PR after temporary disruptions prompted by strike on Venezuela
- The San Juan Daily Star
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
By THE STAR STAFF
La Fortaleza Deputy Chief of Staff Itza García Rodríguez announced Sunday that flights to and from the island resumed at 1 a.m., in accordance with airline schedules, and that all island airports are operating normally.
García confirmed that multiple flights had already begun landing at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in Carolina.
According to data provided by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, some 420 flight operations were affected by the extraordinary measures implemented in recent days, resulting in itinerary changes for nearly 48,000 passengers, as reported by the president of SJU operator Aerostar. García urged travelers who experienced changes to contact their airlines directly to confirm schedules and services. Additionally, the Tourism Company has activated the assistance line 1-800-981-7575 to support visitors and travelers in Puerto Rico. A total of 214 calls were received and processed prior to the announcement of the resumption of flights, with an average handling time of 5.26 minutes per case.
Authorities also coordinated with the hotel sector to provide shelter for visitors impacted by flight disruptions. The Department of Housing maintained an overnight shift at hotels to assist any arriving passengers in need of accommodations.
The Puerto Rico Ports Authority reported that airports across the island were operating according to airline schedules, including those in Vieques and Culebra. At Mercedita International Airport in Ponce, three departures and two arrivals were in operation early Sunday. Rafael Hernández International Airport in Aguadilla was running flights as scheduled. At Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport in Isla Grande, Vieques Air Link was operating normally, along with private commercial flights. José Aponte de la Torre Airport in Ceiba had 14 scheduled departures and 14 arrivals. Benjamín Rivera Airport in Culebra had resumed operations, with Air Margarita charter flights already departing and other flights following itineraries. Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport in Vieques had Cape Air flights running between Vieques and San Juan, with operations on schedule. Eugenio María de Hostos Airport in Mayagüez was also operating normally, with Cape Air managing four arrivals and four departures.
Regarding cancellations, a total of 420 flights were canceled on Saturday: 401 in San Juan, 13 in Aguadilla and six in Ponce.
Cruise operations remained unaffected. Four homeporting cruise ships were disembarking Sunday without incident: Grand Princess, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Ilma, Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas, and Norwegian Epic. As an additional measure to accommodate passengers, two vessels were to remain overnight in San Juan: the Grand Princess until 6 p.m. on Monday, and the Ritz-Carlton Ilma, which also was to stay overnight.
García reiterated the Puerto Rico government’s commitment to keeping residents and visitors informed and continuing interagency coordination to ensure safe and efficient operations at all points of entry to the island.
U.S. airlines had canceled flights, and air travel was disrupted Saturday after federal aviation authorities shut down U.S.-controlled airspace over the Caribbean in response to a U.S. military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, according to a New York Times report.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a notice to airmen early Saturday, known as a NOTAM, banning U.S. civil aircraft from operating, as the United States took action against the South American country.
The FAA cited “safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing military activity” as the reason for the closure. The agency did not specify the nature of the military operations in its notice but said that the action was taken in response to the developments involving Venezuela, the Times report said.
Those developments became clearer later Saturday, when President Donald Trump announced the U.S. military operation. Maduro’s capture followed months of U.S. military pressure, including deadly strikes on vessels, described by U.S. officials as drug-carrying boats; the seizure of a tanker transporting Venezuelan oil; and a growing U.S. military presence in the Caribbean.
Airlines adjusted schedules and canceled flights into and out of Caribbean destinations including Puerto Rico, St. Lucia and Barbados as the order took effect. Passengers were advised to check with carriers for updated travel information.
In a post on social media Saturday afternoon, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the FAA had ordered the closures to “ensure the SAFETY of the flying public.”