A Delta Airlines jet at the Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas, USVI. Photo Credit: V.I. CONSORTIUM.
ST. THOMAS — Flight operations across the U.S. Virgin Islands have resumed after the Federal Aviation Administration lifted the temporary airspace restrictions that were imposed on Saturday as a security precaution following U.S. military operations in Venezuela.
The Virgin Islands Port Authority announced that the FAA has cleared all flight restrictions issued the previous day, allowing both Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas and Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on St. Croix to reopen fully. Normal airport operations are now underway at both facilities.
Inter-island air service has restarted as well. Fly the Whale and Cape Air began operating flights between St. Croix and St. Thomas at 7:00 a.m. today, according to VIPA. Commercial airlines serving routes between the mainland United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands are also operating, though travelers are being advised to confirm schedules directly with their carriers before heading to the airport, as some flights may have been adjusted during the disruption.
In addition to air travel, all seaports in the territory are open and operating normally, VIPA said.
The reopening follows a brief period of flight restrictions imposed by the FAA through Notices to Air Missions, which temporarily closed portions of airspace over Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The FAA implemented the measures in coordination with the Department of Defense amid heightened regional security concerns after U.S. forces carried out military strikes in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
At the time, officials cited “special security reasons,” including elevated military activity and the risk of incidents involving U.S. assets, as justification for the closures. Airlines suspended or rerouted flights during the restriction period, and passengers were urged to monitor updates from their carriers.
With the restrictions now lifted, VIPA said air and sea transportation throughout the territory has returned to normal operations, bringing an end to the precautionary measures that briefly disrupted regional travel.
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