Puerto Rico Air Travel Suspended: 300+ Flights Canceled Amid US–Venezuela Crisis

Island Paralyzed as Diplomatic Row Grounds Flights

San Juan, Puerto Rico—Passengers wept in the departure hall Tuesday after the Federal Aviation Administration abruptly halted all commercial and cargo traffic between the U.S. territory and Venezuelan airspace, citing “national-security risk.” More than 300 flights were scratched before noon, stranding an estimated 28,000 travelers and sending ripples through the Caribbean’s busiest hub.

‘They Just Turned the Lights Off’

JetBlue gate agent Mariela Ortiz recalled the moment: “One second we’re boarding, the next the computers froze. They literally turned the lights off at the gate and told us to evacuate.” By dusk, Luis Muñoz Marín International had become a campground of suitcases and bewildered families.

“My daughter’s quinceañera is Saturday in Caracas. Now we’re sleeping on the floor,” said passenger Ramón Beltrán, clutching a foil blanket handed out by the Puerto Rico National Guard.

Why the FAA Acted Now

Washington’s move follows last week’s detention of two U.S. citizens in Caracas on espionage allegations. A senior State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Herald the suspension is “a preemptive step to prevent any hostile interference with civilian aircraft.” Venezuela’s civil aviation authority retaliated by closing its own airspace to U.S. carriers “indefinitely.”

Economic Shockwave

The timing could hardly be worse. Puerto Rico’s tourism industry, already battered by 2023’s Hurricane Bret, was banking on a record 1.2 million Easter-week visitors. Airlines for America estimates daily losses at $17 million, while local economists warn of a $200 million hit to the island’s GDP if the ban stretches beyond seven days.

• JetBlue: 104 cancellations, $8.3 M revenue loss
• American Airlines: 73 cancellations, 5,400 passengers affected
• UPS/FedEx: 18 cargo freighters grounded, medical supplies delayed

Stranded Passengers’ Rights

Under U.S. Department of Transportation rules, carriers must rebook or refund passengers when flights are canceled for security reasons. Yet with no timeline for reopening, vouchers feel like hollow comfort. The Puerto Rico Consumer Affairs office has fielded 1,400 complaints since dawn; attorneys are already preparing class-action suits.

What Happens Next

Diplomatic sources say back-channel talks began within hours, mediated by Brazil and Colombia. Aviation analysts predict a phased reopening once U.S. intelligence verifies “non-hostile intent.” Until then, the tarmac remains eerily quiet except for the hum of National Guard generators.

Back inside the terminal, 8-year-old Sofía drew airplanes on a paper plate. “I just want to see Grandma,” she said. For thousands like her, the Caribbean sky—once a bridge—has become a wall.