The Canadian government has issued an updated travel advisory for Venezuela, citing a "heightened security situation" in the South American country. In light of the ongoing instability, Canadians are being urged to avoid all travel to Venezuela due to "unstable political and economic situations."
The advisory highlights that the current atmosphere in Venezuela is tense, with the potential for rapid escalation. It warns that borders and airspace could close at short notice, and several airlines have suspended flights, limiting options for leaving the country. Global Affairs Canada reassures that, as of now, there are no reports of Canadian citizens being harmed due to recent incidents in Venezuela.
Since 2019, the Embassy of Canada in Venezuela has been closed, significantly limiting the consular assistance the Canadian government can provide to its citizens in the country. Any necessary support must be rendered remotely, with further information available through the Embassy of Canada to Colombia in Bogota. Currently, approximately 775 Canadians are registered with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service, although this number is considered an estimate as registration is voluntary.
This travel advisory comes on the heels of a U.S. military operation that reportedly captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and removed him from the country early Saturday. This incident has disrupted Caribbean travel during a peak period for the region. On that day, no airline flights traversed Venezuelan airspace, leading to the cancellation of hundreds of flights across the eastern Caribbean as per information from FlightRadar24.com.
Major airlines reported widespread disruptions, including cancellations to destinations like Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and various sites within the Lesser Antilles, affecting holiday travel plans. Authorities indicated that disruptions could persist for days following restrictions imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
At the Queen Beatrix Airport in Aruba, a popular destination for U.S. tourists just off the Venezuelan coast, officials expected operations to normalize the following day, following a day of cancellations that left many travelers stranded.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated in a social media announcement that the FAA took measures to restrict airspace in the Caribbean and Venezuela to ensure public safety. He assured the public that airspace restrictions would be lifted when it was deemed appropriate and advised travelers to coordinate directly with their airlines if their flights were affected.
The FAA stated earlier that it had put a temporary restriction on the airspace around Puerto Rico's international airport due to "security situations related to military activity" in Venezuela. This had significant implications for commercial airlines operating in the area, resulting in numerous flight suspensions, especially by U.S. carriers.
Air Canada reported that its flights to the Caribbean and South America continue to run as scheduled but are offering flexible rebooking options for customers traveling to 17 airports impacted by the advisory until January 6. WestJet has cancelled its Aruba flights out of caution.
JetBlue revealed it had cancelled around 215 flights because of airspace closures linked to military activity and noted that its flights to the Dominican Republic and Jamaica remained unaffected. Customers on affected routes have the option to rebook or request refunds for cancellations.
United Airlines is also modifying its schedule based on airspace closures and is allowing customers to change plans without fees while monitoring the situation. Southwest Airlines cancelled all of its Aruba flights for Saturday and suspended Puerto Rico operations until further notice, although flights to the Dominican Republic continue as normal.
American Airlines is waiving change fees for travel to and from approximately 20 island destinations including Anguilla, Antigua, Curacao, St. Lucia, and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. Delta Air Lines has issued travel waivers for customers flying to or from 13 affected airports through the upcoming Tuesday.
Additionally, Dutch airline KLM announced it had cancelled multiple flights impacting thousands of passengers but intends to restart services to Curacao, Aruba, Bonaire, and others on Sunday. Some travelers scheduled for Caribbean cruises also faced changes, with Virgin Voyages offering full credits for future trips to those unable to reach San Juan, Puerto Rico on time.
