Cayman Islands Airports Authority (CIAA), which operates the Owen Roberts International Airport (ORIA) on Grand Cayman and the Charles Kirkconnell International Airport (CKIA) on Cayman Brac, advises passengers travelling between 15 and 21 July that temporary airspace restrictions associated with the planned SpaceX Starship Flight Test 13 may affect some flights operating to and from the Cayman Islands.
The launch trajectory passes through airspace in the northwestern Caribbean, requiring temporary restrictions issued by FAA Space Operations to protect aircraft operating within the region.
To ensure the safety of aviation operations, temporary airspace restrictions are expected to be implemented from approximately 5:00 p.m. If the launch proceeds as planned, the restrictions are anticipated to last less than one hour. However, should the launch be delayed within the launch window, the restrictions could remain in effect until approximately 8:00 p.m.
The first launch attempt is scheduled for Tuesday, 15 July, with a launch window from 5:45 p.m. to 7:15 pm, local time.
As a result, passengers may experience delays to:
• Flights departing the Cayman Islands after approximately 5:00 p.m.
• Flights arriving from the United States.
• Sister Islands services operating during the affected period.
Passengers travelling during this period are encouraged to:
• Check the status of their flight directly with their airline.
• Arrive at the airport 3 hours before your regularly scheduled departure time, given the fluidity of the dates/times.
• Allow additional time for possible schedule adjustments.
If the launch does not proceed on 15 July, alterative launch opportunities are scheduled daily from 16 to 21 July, during the same launch window. Similar temporary airspace restrictions may be implemented on any of those dates until a successful launch is achieved.
These temporary airspace restrictions are coordinated by FAA Space Operations and are outside the control of the Cayman Islands Airports Authority. Normal flight operations will resume as soon as the airspace is declared safe and the all-clear has been issued.
The CIAA appreciates the public's patience and understanding as these temporary safety measures are implemented.