By Brent Pinheiro
brent.pinheiro@guardian.co.tt
Thirty minutes into its journey, JetBlue Flight 2017, bound for Port of Spain, was forced to turn around and return to New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily banned U.S. carriers from flying in certain parts of the region.
A JetBlue spokesperson told Guardian Media that over 215 flights across the region have been cancelled due to military activity, including the airline’s evening service to Trinidad. Flights to the Dominican Republic and Jamaica remain unaffected. Customers with cancelled flights can either rebook or request a refund. The airline has also issued a fee waiver for passengers with upcoming travel.
American Airlines and United Airlines also told Guardian Media they are making schedule adjustments due to the airspace restrictions. In a statement, American Airlines said it is closely monitoring the situation with the “safety and security of our customers and team members” in mind. The airline will issue a travel alert allowing passengers to change plans at no cost.
Overnight, the FAA issued NOTAMs (Notice to Air Missions) for parts of the Curacao, Maiquetia, Piarco, and San Juan Flight Information Regions, banning American carriers and commercial operators from operating at any altitude without prior authorisation. The NOTAMs cited “safety-of-flight” risks associated with ongoing military activity. Foreign carriers and U.S. military and state aircraft are exempt. The NOTAMs remain in effect until Sunday.
Despite the closures, Defence Minister Wayne Sturge confirmed that Trinidad and Tobago’s airspace remains open to commercial traffic, as the FAA does not have jurisdiction over local airspace. Local carrier Caribbean Airlines also said its flights are operating as scheduled and advised customers to register for real-time updates on its website.
