The U.S. government shutdown is disrupting regional air travel, with two flights bound for Antigua and Barbuda among thousands cancelled across the United States.
An American Airlines service from Miami and a JetBlue flight from New York’s JFK Airport were grounded on Saturday, stranding passengers and forcing last-minute changes for hotels and resorts on the twin-island nation.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered airlines to scale back operations at 40 major airports as air traffic controllers and other staff work without pay. More than 1,000 flights were cancelled and 5,000 delayed nationwide.
Analysts warn that flight reductions could reach 10% by mid-November, potentially disrupting the start of the Caribbean’s winter tourism season.
Antiguan tourism officials say they are monitoring developments and offering flexible rebooking options to affected visitors.
