• The U.S. military operation led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
• Airlines canceled hundreds of flights across the Caribbean due to airspace restrictions.
• Travelers flying to affected regions are facing major disruptions during a busy holiday travel period.
• The FAA imposed temporary restrictions to ensure safety following the military operation.
• Airlines are waiving change fees for affected passengers as they work to resume normal operations.

The U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has caused significant disruptions in Caribbean travel during the busy holiday season. According to FlightRadar24.com, no commercial flights were permitted to fly over Venezuela on Saturday, prompting major airlines to cancel flights across the eastern Caribbean region. This disruption is expected to continue for several days following the imposition of airspace restrictions by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) due to safety concerns related to military activity in Venezuela, as reported by CBS News and Le Monde.

Major airline operations have been severely impacted, with cancellations affecting flights to and from Puerto Rico, Aruba, the Virgin Islands, and numerous destinations in the Lesser Antilles. Airlines have begun waiving change fees for passengers forced to rebook their itineraries, as adjustments to their schedules are made following the FAA's restrictions. JetBlue, for instance, canceled about 215 flights due to the airspace closures, while Southwest Airlines suspended all flights to Aruba and Puerto Rico until further notice, according to reports from India Times and SCMP.

In the aftermath of these cancellations, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized the necessity of the airspace restrictions for passenger safety, stating on social media that "the FAA restricted the airspace in the Caribbean and Venezuela to ensure the SAFETY of the flying public," as reported by Le Monde and India Times.

Aruba's Queen Beatrix International Airport, a popular holiday destination, experienced widespread cancellations but expected to resume normal operations the day after disruptions. However, it is estimated that it may take days for airlines to normalize services and manage the backlog of stranded passengers, according to SCMP and CBS News.