Aerostar expects delays, schedule changes and possible cancellations on flights to and from San Juan
WASHINGTON
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a temporary nationwide stop on flight departures in the United States on Friday, November 13, according to an agency alert reported by The Wall Street Journal.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy attributed the measure to a communication problem affecting air route traffic control centers, according to a statement reported by Chron.
The Puerto Rico Ports Authority clarified in an official update that flights from regional airports to Vieques and Culebra are not included in the measure, which applies to flights bound for the United States. The agency nevertheless urged passengers to confirm their flight status directly with their airline before heading to the airport. It identified Air Flamenco, Vieques Air Link and Cape Air among the airlines serving the island municipalities.
Aerostar Puerto Rico said in an official passenger advisory that delays, schedule changes and possible cancellations are expected on flights to and from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) as a result of the nationwide departure suspension.
The company said the situation did not originate at SJU but stems from a measure affecting the U.S. aviation system. Schedule disruptions are expected until the FAA lifts the restriction and normal flight operations resume.
Aerostar urged travelers to check their flight status directly with their airline before leaving for the airport and to follow official updates.
At 6:32 p.m. Puerto Rico time, the FAA’s official National Airspace System status portal showed average departure delays of 120 minutes and increasing at Atlanta, explicitly attributed to the national stop.
At that time, Chicago O’Hare showed average departure delays of 135 minutes and Newark 105 minutes, both increasing and classified by the system as FAA equipment-related. A further check at 7:17 p.m. Puerto Rico time showed O’Hare’s advisory, updated by the FAA at 7:10 p.m., had risen to an average of 180 minutes, three hours, and was still increasing. At 7:46 p.m. Puerto Rico time, the same FAA portal showed average departure delays of 180 minutes and increasing at Newark, in an advisory updated at 7:35 p.m. and classified as FAA equipment-related. These figures describe airport-wide conditions, not the status of an individual flight.
The FAA maintains a National Airspace System status portal for airport-wide information. Passengers should verify the status of their own booking with their airline.
Updated November 13, 2026, at 7:46 p.m. Puerto Rico time, with FAA delay data and the Puerto Rico Ports Authority’s clarification.
