Dutch airlines operated additional flights on Monday, January 5, 2026, to bring home passengers stranded on the Caribbean ABC islands and nearby destinations after temporary airspace restrictions linked to events in Venezuela disrupted weekend travel. While regular schedules largely resumed late Sunday into Monday, carriers added extra capacity to repatriate travellers who missed flights when routes were paused.
What caused the disruption
The disruption stemmed from a short-lived regional airspace notice issued after U.S. military action in Venezuela. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented temporary flight restrictions affecting Caribbean airspace as a precautionary measure following the military operations.
The FAA allowed these restrictions to lapse around midnight Eastern Time on Sunday, January 4, enabling airlines to restart operations. However, knock-on delays persisted into Monday as crews and aircraft needed to be repositioned to resume normal service patterns.
Which flights were affected
KLM, the Netherlands' flagship carrier, cancelled multiple services on Saturday to and from three key Caribbean destinations: Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten. The airline also suspended onward connections to Georgetown, Guyana, and Bridgetown, Barbados, which are served via these Caribbean hubs.
The cancellations left hundreds of Dutch travellers stranded in the Caribbean over the weekend, unable to return home as planned. Similarly, passengers waiting to depart from Amsterdam for Caribbean destinations faced delays or cancellations.
Airline response and extra flights
Once airspace restrictions were lifted, airlines moved quickly to clear the passenger backlog. KLM rebooked affected customers and scheduled extra flights, including an additional wide-body aircraft rotation to Curaçao to increase capacity for stranded travellers. The airline prioritised getting passengers home as quickly as possible.
Budget carriers TUI and Corendon, which also operate flights between the Netherlands and the Caribbean, similarly scheduled extra services to tackle the backlog and accommodate passengers whose trips were disrupted.
Dutch government guidance
The Dutch government confirmed that flight operations between the Netherlands and the Caribbean would resume on Monday and emphasised that there was no immediate danger to the Dutch Caribbean territories of Curaçao, Aruba, or Bonaire (the ABC islands).
However, authorities urged Dutch nationals currently in Venezuela to exercise caution and maintain contact with family members and Dutch consular services while the situation develops. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not issued a blanket travel warning for the ABC islands themselves, which are located off the Venezuelan coast but are constituent countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Local Caribbean government response
Local governments across the Kingdom of the Netherlands reported coordinated efforts to manage the disruption and support stranded travellers. On Sint Maarten, officials said they were monitoring developments closely and working with airport and airline partners following the regional notice to air missions that had affected flight operations.
The governments emphasised that the restrictions were temporary and related to airspace safety rather than direct threats to the islands themselves. Coordination between Dutch Caribbean authorities, the Netherlands government, and airline partners helped facilitate the orderly resumption of services.
Wider Caribbean impact
International aviation sources documented a wave of weekend cancellations affecting multiple Caribbean destinations beyond just Dutch routes. Airlines serving the region from North America and Europe experienced similar disruptions due to the FAA airspace restrictions.
As restrictions lifted, residual delays and equipment swaps continued into Monday as carriers moved crews and aircraft back into position and worked through passenger waitlists. The Caribbean is a major winter holiday destination, meaning the disruption affected thousands of travelers during the peak tourism season.
Current status and advice for travellers
Dutch carriers have restored most regular services as of Monday, with the extra flights helping to clear the backlog of stranded passengers. Airlines are working through rebooking requests and prioritising passengers whose trips were most severely disrupted.
Travellers with upcoming flights to or from the Caribbean are advised to:
Check airline websites or mobile apps for the latest flight status and rebooking information
Allow extra time for potential residual delays as operations fully normalize
Contact airlines directly if uncertain about their booking status
Follow official Dutch government travel guidance for the region
For Dutch nationals in Venezuela, the government recommends staying informed through consular channels and exercising heightened caution while the security situation develops. The exact nature of the U.S. military action that prompted the airspace restrictions has not been detailed in available reports, but the FAA's decision to lift restrictions suggests immediate concerns have been addressed.
