Extra Dutch flights to fetch travelers stranded in Antilles over the Venezuela situation

KLM, TUI, and Corendon are operating extra flights to pick up stranded travelers from the Antilles, the airlines announced on Sunday. Several flights to the Caribbean islands were canceled on Saturday due to developments in Venezuela. Regular flights have since resumed. The extra flights are intended for the thousands of travelers who could not fly on Saturday.

The first TUI fly repatriation flight departed from Amsterdam on Sunday afternoon. According to a spokesperson, this flight also accommodated Curaçao residents of the previously canceled TUI fly flight, who were stranded in the Netherlands. “Due to the time difference and mandatory rest periods for the crew, the aircraft will return to the Netherlands on January 5, via Bonaire.”

The flight won’t be able to accommodate everyone. “Since multiple aircraft are needed to repatriate all affected passengers, more repatriation flights are being arranged urgently. All affected travelers will be notified by text message as soon as a confirmed flight assignment is available,” the TUI spokesperson assured.

Over 900 passengers on the canceled TUI flights were scheduled to fly to Curacao and Bonaire on Saturday, and 900 back to the Netherlands. The three flights, both outbound and return, were fully booked due to the Christmas holiday.

KLM is operating an additional flight from Schiphol to Curaçao on Monday. This aircraft, with a capacity of 380 passengers, will return from Curaçao to the Netherlands on Tuesday. The airline is also trying to rebook travelers as quickly as possible on other flights with available space. “This way, we expect to be able to bring all travelers to their destination within a few days,” KLM said.

KLM announced on Saturday that the cancellation of outbound and return flights to several Caribbean destinations affected a total of 2,600 passengers.

Corendon will operate an extra flight on Monday. The airline expects that all stranded passengers will be able to board. Corendon was forced to cancel one flight to the Antilles on Saturday, with over 400 seats.