The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that Trinidad and Tobago’s airspace remains open, despite recent disruptions to international flights linked to restrictions imposed by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
In an update provided by Minister of Defence Wayne Sturge, it was revealed that flights departing the United States within the last 12 hours were instructed by the FAA to return to the U.S. This included a JetBlue flight bound for Trinidad and Tobago, which received instructions to turn back just minutes after take-off from JFK International Airport in New York.
The disruptions stem from the FAA’s ban on U.S. commercial flights operating within Venezuelan airspace. As a result, the Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (AATT) has advised that several airlines have cancelled flights to and from Trinidad and Tobago. These include KLM, United Airlines, American Airlines, JetBlue, and Amerijet Cargo.
Minister Sturge emphasized that the cancellations are a direct consequence of the FAA’s restrictions and not due to any closure or limitation imposed by Trinidad and Tobago. He reiterated that the country’s airspace remains open and operational.
The Ministry of Defence continues to monitor the situation closely and will provide further updates as necessary.
