If you were stuck in an airport over the New Year holiday wondering why your Caribbean flight suddenly vanished, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has good news. The airspace over Venezuela and the Caribbean is open for business again.

Normal Operations Resume

"The original restrictions around the Caribbean airspace are expiring at 12:00 am ET and flights can resume," Duffy posted on X late Saturday.

"Airlines are informed, and will update their schedules quickly. Please continue to work with your airline if your flight was affected by the restrictions."

The announcement came after the Federal Aviation Administration temporarily locked down a massive chunk of airspace following U.S. military action in Venezuela. Earlier on Saturday, Duffy had announced the restrictions with a promise that they'd be lifted "when appropriate." Apparently, appropriate meant roughly 24 hours later.

The Fallout From Flight Restrictions

The timing couldn't have been worse for travelers. The FAA's decision resulted in the cancellation of hundreds of flights to and from Puerto Rico and other Caribbean destinations, leaving thousands of people stranded over the New Year holiday period. Nothing says "Happy New Year" quite like camping out at an airport gate.

Major U.S. airlines took the hit across the board. American Airlines (AAL), Delta Air Lines (DAL), Southwest Airlines (LUV), JetBlue Airways (JBLU), United Airlines (UAL), and Frontier Airlines (ULCC) were all affected by the flight restrictions, according to a report by CNBC.

Here's an interesting wrinkle though: major U.S. airlines haven't operated direct flights to Venezuela for several years anyway. American Airlines was the last of the major U.S. carriers to cease operations in the country back in 2019 due to civil unrest. So while Venezuela itself wasn't a major destination, the airspace restrictions cast a much wider net over the Caribbean region.

What Triggered the Restrictions

The airspace lockdown came in the wake of U.S. military action in Venezuela. On Saturday, the U.S. launched an attack against Venezuela following reports of low-flying aircraft and explosions in Caracas. The military operation led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

The FAA's restrictions were a direct response to the heightened military activity in the region. When military aircraft are operating in an area, commercial aviation tends to get grounded. It's standard protocol when things get dicey, even if it means chaos for holiday travelers.

With the restrictions now lifted, airlines are scrambling to update their schedules and get operations back to normal. If your flight was affected, you'll want to check directly with your airline for rebooking options and updated departure times.