South Americans arrive smoothly in Orlando after weekend flight disruptions
ENTIRELY BYPASSED. MEANTIME, FLIGHTS FROM SOUTH AMERICA ARE STARTING TO LAND TODAY AT ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. SEVERAL FLIGHTS FROM COLOMBIA HAVE COME IN ALREADY, AND THAT’S WHERE WE FIND SPENCER TRACY LIVE AT MCO THIS AFTERNOON. SPENCER, WHAT ARE TRAVELERS SAYING? IT’S BEEN PRETTY STRESSFUL. YEAH, I MEAN, DESPITE THE STRESSFUL WEEKEND THAT MANY OF THEM MIGHT HAVE HAD, THEY TELL ME THAT THEY EXPERIENCED NO STRESS, NO DELAYS, NO CANCELLATIONS. EVERYTHING WENT REALLY SMOOTH, WHICH IS AWESOME NEWS. AND THEY SAY THEY DO HAVE A MESSAGE TO VENEZUELANS ONCE THEY ARRIVED HERE. FOR SOME TRAVELERS COMING FROM COLOMBIA, THAT WASN’T THE ISSUE. WHAT STOOD OUT WAS WHAT THEY HEARD BEFORE TAKEOFF. WE ARE HEADING TO. MY FLIGHT WAS FINE, BUT WHAT WAS SURPRISING WAS THAT AT THE AIRPORT IN COLOMBIA, THEY WERE ANNOUNCING FLIGHTS TO VENEZUELA OVER THE WEEKEND. THERE WERE FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS FOLLOWING THE U.S. MILITARY OPERATION IN VENEZUELA. IT LEFT MANY TRAVELERS STRANDED. WE SPOKE WITH JOHN BORRERO, WHO LIVES HERE IN ORLANDO BUT WAS VISITING FAMILY IN COLOMBIA. DE DICIEMBRE. I WAS ON VACATION SINCE DECEMBER 12TH, VISITING MY PARENTS, LOGAN HALL BORRERO SAYS. WHILE IN COLOMBIA, HE HAS WATCHED EVENTS UNFOLD FROM THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY. LA FRONTERA ON THE THE COLOMBIA IN CUCUTA CON VENEZUELA AT THE BORDER OF COLOMBIA AND VENEZUELA. PEOPLE WERE CROSSING BACK INTO VENEZUELA. BUT WHAT I’VE SEEN IS A LOT OF VENEZUELANS ARE CELEBRATING IN COLOMBIA. WE ALSO SPOKE WITH SEVERAL OTHER TRAVELERS ARRIVING FROM COLOMBIA, BUT MANY WERE TOO AFRAID TO GO ON CAMERA TELLING US THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES FOR SPEAKING OUT. BORRERO HAS A MESSAGE, AS THERE IS A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY. LA ESPERANZA DE. DE VOLVER AL PAIS. IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO LOSE HOPE OF RETURNING BACK TO THEIR COUNTRY OR REUNITING WITH FAMILY. THE U.S. GIVES THEM A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO RETURN. MAY GOD BLESS VENEZUELANS. IN LAST CHECK. WHAT WE’VE SEEN ON THE ARRIVAL BOARD IS THAT ALL THE FLIGHTS HAVE COME IN FROM COLOMBIA HERE TO ORLANDO. AND LAST CHECK. LIKE I SAID, WE ARE NOT SEEING ANY DELAYS, ANY CANCELLATIONS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY HERE. OF COURSE, WE’LL KEEP AN EYE ON IT AND GIVE YOU THE LATEST ON AIR AND ONLINE@WESH.COM. I’
South Americans arrive smoothly in Orlando after weekend flight disruptions
Updated: 5:04 PM EST Jan 5, 2026
Travelers arriving at Orlando International Airport on Monday reported smooth flights and calm conditions, a welcome change after weekend disruptions affected flights from parts of South America.Several flights from Colombia landed at the airport without issue, according to passengers, who said the experience today was stress-free compared to the uncertainty over the weekend. The Federal Aviation Administration lifted temporary restrictions on Caribbean airspace late Sunday after they were put in place during a U.S. military operation tied to Venezuela.One traveler, who had been visiting family in Colombia, said his flight was uneventful, but he was surprised by announcements at the airport referencing flights to Venezuela. Others who had similar experiences declined to speak on camera, expressing nervousness about publicly discussing the situation, given ongoing political tensions. Some of them shared that they hoped for peace and stability in Venezuela and urged leaders on all sides to pursue diplomatic solutions. Airport officials said more flights from Colombia and other countries in the region are expected to arrive at Orlando International throughout the week.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
Travelers arriving at Orlando International Airport on Monday reported smooth flights and calm conditions, a welcome change after weekend disruptions affected flights from parts of South America.
Several flights from Colombia landed at the airport without issue, according to passengers, who said the experience today was stress-free compared to the uncertainty over the weekend.
The Federal Aviation Administration lifted temporary restrictions on Caribbean airspace late Sunday after they were put in place during a U.S. military operation tied to Venezuela.
One traveler, who had been visiting family in Colombia, said his flight was uneventful, but he was surprised by announcements at the airport referencing flights to Venezuela.
Others who had similar experiences declined to speak on camera, expressing nervousness about publicly discussing the situation, given ongoing political tensions. Some of them shared that they hoped for peace and stability in Venezuela and urged leaders on all sides to pursue diplomatic solutions.
Airport officials said more flights from Colombia and other countries in the region are expected to arrive at Orlando International throughout the week.