Air Canada Offers Flexible Rebooking over Venezuelan Disruptions

Air Canada has activated its flexible rebooking policy following the closure of airspace in the Caribbean over the weekend. The U.S. issued a warning over the weekend, “due to safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing military activity,” Reuters reported. The FAA also warned non-U.S. carriers to avoid Venezuelan airspace, citing “potential risk from anti-aircraft weaponry and heightened military activity” within 100 miles of the country.

The directive expired at 12 a.m. EST on Jan. 4, 2026, with major airlines resuming scheduled flights shortly thereafter. 

Related: Caribbean Airspace Reopens After Military Attack in Venezuela Disrupts Flights

In a message to its customers, Air Canada stated “Because of the situation in Venezuela and surrounding regions, we understand that you may want to make alternate travel arrangements.” 

To that end, the airline is offering one free change (as per guidelines outlined below) up to 2 hours before departure for travel originally scheduled between Jan. 3 and Jan. 6, 2026. Rebooking is only permitted on Air Canada Operated flights in the same cabin as ticketed.

Tickets must have been purchased prior to Jan. 2, 2025 in order to qualify and can be rebooked up until Jan. 13.

The offer applies to itineraries that include a flight to, from or through one of the following airports:

• Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda (ANU)
• Aruba, Aruba (AUA)
• Bridgetown, Barbados (BGI)
• Curaçao, Curaçao (CUR)
• Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (POS)
• San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU)
• St. Lucia, Saint Lucia (UVF)
• St. Maarten, Sint Maarten (SXM)
• St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (STT)
• Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadaloupe (PTP)
• Fort-de-France, Martinique (FDF)
• Grenada, Grenada (GND)
• St. Vincent, St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVD)
• St. Kitts, St. Kitts and Nevis (SKB)
• Bogotá, Colombia (BOG)
• Cartagena, Colombia (CTG)
• Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ)
  
  

Rebooking Guidelines

Air Canada notes the following fare rebooking guidelines for advisors:

Fare Rules	Policy Within Rebooking Window	Policy Outside Rebooking Window
Change Fee(s)	Waived	Waived
ADCL	Waived if rebooked in the same cabin	Fare rules apply

 

 

Change of Origin/Destination	Passengers may choose to travel to an alternate     Air Canada destination, change fee waived but ADCOL applies.
Endorsement	For Call Centres and Travel Agencies, use ACACARJAN26 when processing a ticket exchange for GDS issued tickets. Endorsement is not required for NDC, AC Connex and ADO issued tickets.
Refunds	As per fare rules.
Aeroplan Tickets	Please refer the customer to Aeroplan for handling (refer to Aeroplan - Contacts for the Aeroplan Schedule Change phone number).
Additional Details	For any itinerary with a flight cancellation, please follow the procedures outlined in the Schedule Change or Flight Disruption Policy.

 

 

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