Not sure what to do if your flight is cancelled or delayed on the way to Venezuela? Ask at the counter for the cause in writing and demand assistance. Then choose between another flight or your refund. Sounds simple. But the earthquakes of June 24, 2026 shut Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetia for 69 days and left passengers stranded in Madrid, Panama and Miami unsure what to ask for.
In this guide, you'll see what to do at the airport, what rights INAC gives you, and when European or US compensation kicks in. As the Vuelitos Editorial Team, we've tracked Maiquetia flight cancellations and every INAC and airline statement since the June closure. At Vuelitos, we put this guide together so you've got the steps on hand before you reach the counter.
Here's the thing: there's one document almost nobody asks for at the airport. It's step 1.
Maiquetia Flight Cancellations: What Happened in 2026 and How Flying Works Now
Did you have a ticket for late June, only to watch your flight vanish from the departures board?
Maiquetia flight cancellations are suspensions of scheduled flights departing from or arriving at that airport. The airline, the weather or an official closure can trigger them. Since September 1, 2026, the terminal has operated from temporary facilities at reduced capacity. This mostly affects travelers flying from Madrid, Miami, Panama or Bogotá.
The magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes cracked runways and blew out windows, and airlines diverted their flights to Arturo Michelena International Airport in Valencia.
The Maiquetia International Airport Institute (IAIM) reopened on September 1, 2026 with about 33% of its usual international flights. For every three flights that used to leave, one leaves today. That's why knowing what to do if your flight is cancelled or delayed isn't theoretical anymore: every cancellation leaves fewer empty seats to rebook you on. Passing through the temporary terminal? Check our Maiquetia airport guide.
What to Do If Your Flight Is Cancelled or Delayed: 5 Steps at the Airport
What you do in the first hour counts for more than any email you send later. At the counter, there are still seats and an agent who can sign a document for you.
Acting on a cancellation or delay means documenting, requesting assistance and choosing a solution before you leave the airport. Each step leaves proof that later backs up your claim. It works best in the first two hours, while there are still empty seats.
The short answer to what to do if your flight is cancelled or delayed fits into five steps:
- Ask for the cause in writing. This is the document almost nobody asks for. If the cause is a technical fault, you may qualify for a refund and compensation. If it's an official closure, you're down to a refund.
- Demand assistance after 30 minutes. Refreshments, a way to call home and, if you spend the night because of the airline, a hotel.
- Choose between an alternative flight or a refund. Read any voucher before you sign. A refund in the ticket's currency keeps your options open.
- Keep everything. Boarding pass, receipts and a photo of the departures board.
- Find your own alternative. Compare routes via Valencia, Panama or Bogotá on the Vuelitos flight search.
Picture a passenger in Madrid on June 25, 2026, her flight to Caracas cancelled. She skipped the first voucher on offer and asked for a certificate stating the cause, plus a refund in euros. Three weeks later, she had her money back and a new ticket via Valencia.
Passenger Rights for Maiquetia Flight Cancellations Under INAC Rules
Did you know that in Venezuela the clock on your rights starts at 30 minutes of delay?
INAC's General Conditions of Air Transport are the rules that set what an airline owes you in Venezuela. They cover delays, cancellations, refunds and claim deadlines on domestic and international flights. They protect you on any flight departing from or arriving at Maiquetia.
INAC published the current rules in Administrative Order PRE-CJU-GDA-308-24, Official Gazette No. 43,000, on November 5, 2024:
| Situation | What you're entitled to |
| Delay of more than 30 minutes | Assistance from the airline |
| Delay of more than 1 hour | INAC may investigate the airline |
| Cancellation caused by the airline | A hotel of at least three stars, or round-trip transport to your home |
| Refund | Full, within 7 business days |
| Claim with the airline | Within 30 days |
| Complaint with INAC | Up to 36 months later |
Those 36 months mean you can still report a June 2026 cancellation until June 2029. If the airline ignored you, your case isn't closed.
At the Vuelitos Editorial Team, we'll say it plainly: the 30-day deadline is the one most people let slip. If you're asking what to do if your flight is cancelled or delayed, start with a formal email to the airline with your certificate and receipts.
Maiquetia Flight Cancellations on Routes to Europe or the United States
Was your ticket Madrid–Caracas or Miami–Caracas? Then you've got two more sets of rules on your side.
Cancellation compensation is a fixed payment for the inconvenience, separate from a ticket refund. In Europe it's governed by Regulation (EC) 261/2004, and in the United States by the Department of Transportation (DOT). It only applies if the cause is within the airline's control. It matters most on flights with Iberia, Air Europa, Plus Ultra or American Airlines.
Regulation 261/2004 covers every flight departing from the European Union, plus flights arriving there on European airlines. Because Madrid–Caracas is longer than 3,500 kilometers, compensation reaches €600 per passenger. That's €2,400 for a family of four, money you don't want to leave on the table. One catch: an earthquake counts as an extraordinary circumstance, so there's no compensation. You still get a refund, meals and a hotel.
In the United States, the DOT rule in force since October 28, 2024 requires automatic refunds if your international flight is cancelled or changed by 6 hours or more and you don't accept the alternative.
Honestly, what to do if your flight is cancelled or delayed depends on your departure airport and your airline. If you're rebooking to Florida, check how long a flight from Venezuela to the United States takes to plan your layovers.
Conclusion
Knowing what to do if your flight is cancelled or delayed comes down to three moves: ask for the cause in writing, demand assistance after 30 minutes, and file your claim within 30 days. INAC's rules protect you on any flight that touches Maiquetia, and if you fly from Europe or the United States, you've got even more backing. Need another flight? Line it up before you reach the counter.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can choose between an alternative flight or a refund of your ticket. If the airline caused it, you're owed a hotel and meals.
Yes, you can request a refund for the unflown leg if you decline another flight. INAC gives airlines 7 business days to pay.
Yes, if the cancellation is the airline's fault and you have to stay overnight. INAC requires a hotel of at least three stars.
First, file a written claim with the airline within 30 days. If it doesn't respond, report it to INAC, which accepts complaints for up to 36 months.
No: an earthquake is an extraordinary circumstance that frees the airline from paying compensation. You still keep your right to a refund or an alternative flight.
Because it only applies when the cause is within the airline's control, such as a technical fault. Bad weather, earthquakes and airspace closures don't count.
You can claim meals, hotel, transport and calls the airline didn't cover. Keep every receipt, because claims without proof almost never succeed.
A refund returns what you paid for the ticket; compensation is an extra payment for the inconvenience. In Europe you can receive both at once.
