PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, January 3, 2026, 10:16 ET
Several flights were canceled or delayed at Trinidad and Tobago’s Piarco International Airport on Saturday, disrupting U.S. routes and some inter-island travel. The airport operator’s online departures board listed American Airlines Flight 2399 to Miami and JetBlue Flight 2018 to New York as canceled, while at least one domestic shuttle to Tobago was shown as delayed. 1
The disruption followed overnight U.S. strikes in Venezuela that ended with President Nicolas Maduro’s capture, according to U.S. President Donald Trump. The operation marked Washington’s most direct military intervention in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama, Reuters reported. 2
American Airlines posted a travel alert for an “airspace closure – Eastern Caribbean” that includes Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, allowing some customers to change flights without a fee for travel scheduled January 3-4, for tickets bought by January 2. The carrier said eligible passengers can rebook within a limited window and must keep the same origin and destination. 3
JetBlue Flight 2017 bound for Port of Spain turned back to New York’s JFK after takeoff, and a JetBlue spokesperson said more than 215 flights across the region were canceled because of military activity, the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian reported. The paper said the FAA issued NOTAMs — short safety notices for pilots — for parts of several flight information regions, blocks of airspace managed by controllers, prompting American Airlines and United Airlines to adjust schedules, with the restrictions running through Sunday. Defence Minister Wayne Sturge said Trinidad and Tobago’s airspace remained open to commercial traffic, while Caribbean Airlines said it was operating as scheduled, the Guardian reported. 4
“There are still flights operating between MIA and the Caribbean, but 40 flights have been canceled so far today,” said Greg Chin, communications director at Miami International Airport. He said Port of Spain was among the affected destinations. 5
At Piarco, the Airports Authority’s arrivals board also listed JetBlue Flight 2017 from New York as canceled on Saturday morning. 6
Airlines and airports often see quick knock-on effects after airspace restrictions, as aircraft and crews are scheduled to operate multiple legs in a day. Cancellations on one route can delay later departures as planes and crews fall out of position.
Port of Spain is Trinidad and Tobago’s main international gateway, handling U.S., regional and domestic flights, while Tobago’s A.N.R. Robinson airport links the smaller island to the capital and regional destinations.
The FAA had warned airlines in November of a “potentially hazardous situation” when flying over Venezuela, citing heightened military activity and security risks at all altitudes. 7
Trinidad and Tobago in December approved the transit of U.S. military aircraft through its airports for logistical purposes amid rising tensions between Washington and Caracas, Reuters reported at the time. 8
Airlines urged passengers to check flight status and rebooking options before traveling to the airport as schedules continued to shift through the morning.
