“All flights back to normal” – GCAA Head after disruptions caused by US strikes in Venezuela

– says extra flights in place for affected int’l passengers; domestic flights not affected

Following the disruptions to several flights around the region on Saturday after the United States (US) conducted a “large-scale” attack in Caracas to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, flight operations in Guyana have returned to normalcy. This is according to the Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Egbert Field. “All flights are back to normal. As of [Sunday], all flights will be coming in,” Field told the Guyana Times on Sunday.
According to the GCAA Head, approximately three flights were affected. These flights were operated by JetBlue Airways and United Airlines – both to and from the US – as well as KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, which flies to Amsterdam in the Netherlands with a connection in the Caribbean. While these flights were cancelled, Field explained that some flights operated by American Airlines merely experienced extended delays. Nevertheless, the Director General assured that systems have been put in place for those passengers affected by Saturday’s flight disruptions. “Extra flights will be put on for the passengers who were disrupted [on Saturday]. I can’t say how many at the moment… But I know that one or two airlines have put on extra flights to accommodate [affected] passengers,” Field stated.

Domestic flights not affected
All the affected flights were scheduled to either land at or take off from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) in Timehri, and according to the GCAA Head, there were no disruptions to domestic flights that largely operate from the Eugene F. Correia International Airport at Ogle, East Coast Demerara (ECD). “But all flights are operative, and we are back to normal operation as of today (Sunday). And there were no disruptions with the domestic operation,” the Director General noted.
In the wee hours of Saturday, the United States (US) military conducted several strikes in neighbouring Venezuela as part of a daring operation that saw them capturing Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from their home on a military base in downtown Caracas and transporting them to New York to face indictments on multiple criminal charges, including “narco-terrorism”. Due to the US military operation, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had implemented airspace restrictions for US-operated airlines in the region, affecting many Caribbean destinations, including Guyana.

FAA restrictions lifted
JetBlue had listed Georgetown among the 15 destinations that were impacted by the FAA mandated international airspace restrictions, which has since been lifted as of Sunday. “We will waive change/cancel fees and fare differences for customers travelling Saturday, January 3, through Sunday, January 4, 2026,” JetBlue said in its advisory. Similarly, United has offered to waive the change fees and fare differences for passengers rescheduling their flights between January 6 and 13, 2026.
Meanwhile, KLM had cancelled five flights, both outbound and return, affecting a total of 2,600 passengers travelling to and from Curaçao, Aruba, Bonaire, St Maarten, Port of Spain, Georgetown and Bridgetown. On the other hand, Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL), the region’s premier carrier, said there were no disruptions to its services on Saturday and that operations continued as per schedule. The Donald Trump Administration’s early morning operation saw US troops removing the Venezuelan dictator and his wife from their home on a military base in downtown Caracas. Senior US military officials say the aerial attacks disabled Venezuela’s air defence systems, thus providing cover for US helicopters heading towards the compound.

Maduro and his wife were detained while attempting to go into hiding. They were flown out to the US warship, USS Iwo Jima, off the Venezuelan coast and transported to New York to face prosecution by the Justice Department. According to international reports, Maduro and other Venezuelan officials were indicted in 2020 on “narco-terrorism” conspiracy charges; however, the Justice Department released a new indictment on Saturday of Maduro and his wife that painted the regime as a “corrupt, illegitimate Government” fuelled by a drug trafficking operation that flooded the US with cocaine. Based on reports coming out of the US, the captured Venezuelan leader will appear in Manhattan Federal Court on Monday for arraignment on a four-count indictment that will charge him with allegedly leading a 25-year narco-terrorism conspiracy.

President assures security
Following the US strikes in neighbouring Venezuela, President Dr Irfaan Ali had assured Guyanese that the country’s security mechanisms are fully mobilised and the Government is closely monitoring developments in the Spanish-speaking nation. The Guyanese leader had met with the Defence Board, the National Security Architecture, regional commanders, and other senior security officials early Saturday morning at State House in Georgetown to discuss the situation in Venezuela. “The priority is the safety and security of our country,” President Ali had declared in a social media post on Saturday. Similar assurances were given by the Chief of Defence Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Omar Khan. The Army Chief told the Guyana Times on Saturday evening that the GDF remains vigilant in light of the developments in bordering Venezuela with heightened leadership engagements that were led by Prime Minister (PM) Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips and other senior army officials. “Our troops remain alert, confident and motivated,” Brigadier Khan indicated. Meanwhile, President Ali has welcomed President Trump’s subsequent announcement on Saturday that the US will run Venezuela until a proper transition can take place. In a second statement late Saturday evening, the Guyanese leader said, “The Government of Guyana welcomes the leadership of the President of the United States in reaffirming shared commitments to freedom, democracy and regional security. We look forward to constructive engagement in Venezuela’s next chapter in the interest of all Venezuelans.” According to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces in Guyana, his Government continues to monitor the developments in Caracas, adding that “stability, respect for law and democratic transition are critical to the future of Venezuela and the broader Americas. In this regard, Guyana supports efforts that uphold democratic norms and ensure that the region remains a Zone of Peace.”