Caribbean Airspace Reopens as FAA Lifts NOTAM After Maduro Risk

(ANGUILLA) — Caribbean airspace is open again after a rare FAA shutdown, but your next few days of flying may still feel messy. If you’re rebooking after the NOTAM, American Airlines is the better bet for getting you moving fast, while Delta is the safer pick if you want tighter rebooking promises and clearer airport guidance.

The FAA’s Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) that blocked flights into Eastern Caribbean airspace lifted at midnight Eastern on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. Airlines restarted flying quickly, yet the ripple effects remain. Seats, standby lists, and hotel rooms will stay strained through early week.

Below is how American and Delta stack up right now for travelers trying to get to, from, or around the islands.

American vs. Delta: which is better for Caribbean recovery flights?

What happened, in plain English

The U.S. temporarily restricted Eastern Caribbean flying on Jan. 3 due to a safety-of-flight risk. That restriction came via an FAA NOTAM and lifted at midnight Eastern the same day.

For travelers, the pain came first. Hundreds of flights were canceled across Southwest, JetBlue, United, Delta, and American on Jan. 3. Tourists were stranded across Vieques, Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, St. Martin, and St. Thomas.

The recovery started quickly:
– Aruba’s Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA) resumed flights by Jan. 4.
– San Juan (SJU) went from about 400 cancellations on Jan. 3 to 29 cancellations on Jan. 4.

That matters because SJU is the region’s pressure-release valve. If you can get to SJU, you can often find onward seats faster.

Price: where your wallet can take the biggest hit

Airlines have not published special “recovery fares” as part of this update. The price pattern after a mass disruption is predictable:

• Last-minute seats rise fast as the backlog clears.
• Remaining inventory gets pricey first in premium cabins.
• One-way tickets can price oddly high in the Caribbean market.

Practical takeaway:
– Your cheapest option may be the airline that can rebook you onto the first available seat. That can beat buying a brand-new ticket on a different carrier.
– American’s move to add 7,000 seats through 43 extra flights is a classic “buy down the chaos with capacity” play — more seats usually means fewer overpriced leftovers.
– Delta’s 2,600-seat add is meaningful but smaller; Delta tends to protect operational reliability, then meter capacity back in.

⚠️ Heads Up: If you’re canceling and re-buying, price both one-way and roundtrip. Caribbean one-ways often spike after disruptions.

Schedule and route options: American’s big advantage is San Juan

If you’re trying to salvage a trip today or tomorrow, network matters more than brand loyalty.

American’s recovery edge

American leaned into the Puerto Rico corridor. The airline’s extra flying includes a standout move for island-hoppers:

On Jan. 5, American operated two flights linking:
– Anguilla’s Wallblake Airport (AXA) → San Juan (SJU)
– Beef Island, BVI (EIS) → San Juan (SJU)

American says this is the first time in over a decade it has run interisland service. That’s significant for travelers stuck on smaller islands, which are often the hardest places to escape during irregular operations.

Wallblake Airport’s capabilities changed Anguilla access: AXA can handle more mainstream narrowbody flying now. When disruptions hit, having scheduled lift matters.

Delta’s recovery edge

Delta’s strength is its hub machine. If you can get to a Delta “spoke,” Atlanta (ATL) can often rescue you. Delta also publicly set a target to rebook all customers by Jan. 6.

That pledge helps planning: if you’re holding a voucher or a hotel night, the timing of rebooking matters.

Operational reliability: what to expect at the airport

Airspace reopened, but recovery isn’t instant. Common operational issues:
– Crews are out of position.
– Aircraft rotations are broken.
– Call centers and chat queues are overloaded.
– Airport lines and hold times may be long.

Delta’s guidance was blunt and useful:
– If you have a confirmed booking, arrive three hours early.
– If you are not confirmed, do not go to the airport yet.

That second line is crucial: Caribbean terminals can be small and crowded. Showing up without a confirmed seat can waste hours.

American’s most traveler-friendly action was adding capacity quickly. In a recovery week, seats are the currency.

Comfort and onboard product: not the week to be picky

Most Caribbean flying is narrowbody. Comfort boils down to:
– Do you have a seat assignment you can live with?
– Can you avoid a middle seat on a long hop?

If timing is similar, Delta’s domestic first class tends to be more consistent; American can be a mixed bag depending on aircraft.

However, in a recovery window, prioritize:
1) An earlier departure over
2) A slightly better soft product.

A same-day arrival beats a nicer snack basket.

Miles and points: earn and burn considerations during a disruption

Frequent flyers can use strategy to reduce pain:

Earning miles

• AAdvantage: earning on American-marketed flights is straightforward. Rebooked AA-operated flights should credit normally.
• SkyMiles: earning is straightforward on Delta ticket stock and includes MQD credit based on ticket price.

Keep receipts: irregular operations can cause odd ticketing changes and you’ll want clean credit.

Award tickets and redeposit fees

• Airlines often release more award seats after a disruption when extra flights load.
• Keep refreshing searches, especially for SJU connections.
• Check redeposit rules before canceling; U.S. carriers are often flexible, but partner award rules vary.

Best points play: use SJU as your award “bridge”

San Juan’s improvement from 400 to 29 cancellations in one day signals clearing capacity.

If possible:
1) Buy a paid ticket to SJU, then
2) Book a separate award from SJU onward.

This can beat availability on limited nonstop routes.

💡 Pro Tip: Search awards from SJU to your island, not from the mainland. Inventory often opens on short hops first.

Competitive context: why this feels worse than a normal weather event

Caribbean disruptions are common in hurricane season, but this event was different.

A military-linked safety risk triggered a U.S. government action (a NOTAM) that created a hard stop. Planes and crews can’t slowly work around it.

When a NOTAM shuts a region, the restart is lumpy:
– Crews must be legal to fly,
– Aircraft need to be in the right place,
– Airport slots and ground handling must be available.

American’s response looks more aggressive based on the published seat adds. Delta’s response looks more structured, with clearer customer-flow guidance. JetBlue and Southwest are also major Caribbean players, but the most specific public recovery metrics here are from American and Delta.

Choose American if…

American is the smarter pick when:
– You need the most extra seats in the market this week.
– You can route through San Juan (SJU) or Miami (MIA).
– You’re traveling to smaller islands, including Anguilla.
– You want the best chance of an earlier departure, even if the day is messy.

American’s 43 extra flights and 7,000 added seats are hard to beat in the short term. Capacity is compassion in a disruption.

Choose Delta if…

Delta is the better fit when:
– You value clearer rebooking expectations — Delta targeted Jan. 6.
– You prefer firm day-of-travel instructions during chaos.
– You can route smoothly through Atlanta (ATL).
– You accept fewer added seats in exchange for tighter operational control.

Delta’s “arrive three hours early” message is realistic and can save you from missed connections or long security waits.

The call if you’re currently stranded

If you hold any ticket for travel in the next 72 hours, follow this playbook:

1. Confirm you have an actual seat assignment.
2. If you don’t, prioritize flights with added capacity.
3. Consider rerouting through SJU, since it’s stabilizing fast.
4. Avoid showing up at the airport without a confirmed booking.

American’s AXA and EIS to SJU flights on Jan. 5 are the standout move. If you’re on Anguilla, start there. Wallblake Airport is suddenly part of the recovery story, not just a destination airport.

American is the stronger “get me out today” airline because it injected the most seats into the system and leaned into San Juan with meaningful flying. Delta is the better “keep me sane while you fix it” airline because it set a clearer rebooking goal and gave blunt airport guidance. If you’re traveling Monday and Tuesday, check your flight status before leaving for the airport, and grab any workable seat you see before the extra capacity sells through.