Several international airlines canceled their flights to Venezuela after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration issued a notice that urges “exercising extreme caution” when flying over the country and the southern Caribbean Sea.
The measure coincides with a U.S. military deployment in the region, which has heightened tensions with Nicolás Maduro’s regime.
Avianca
The Colombian airline Avianca announced this Saturday the cancellation of its flights to Venezuela, citing “operational adjustments” and the need to assess the situation.
The company operates two daily flights between Bogotá and Caracas, and its decision comes after the FAA’s international warning about potential risks in the region.
A source from Avianca said the airline is continuously monitoring conditions before resuming operations.
Wingo, another Colombian airline operating routes to Venezuela, is still maintaining its flights, though it confirmed the situation is under evaluation.
“We have not canceled the flights for the next two days, we are evaluating them based on security conditions.”
Meanwhile, European airlines have also adopted similar measures.
Iberia
The Spanish airline Iberia suspended its commercial flights to Venezuela this Saturday, assessing the situation to decide when to resume operations.
Iberia operates five weekly flights to Caracas and announced that the suspension includes the route scheduled for Monday.
TAP
The Portuguese airline TAP confirmed the cancellation of flights TP170 scheduled for November 22 and 25, after receiving the FAA notice stating that “safety conditions in Venezuelan airspace are not guaranteed, particularly in the Maiquetía flight information region.”
TAP assured that all passengers were informed and may request refunds. It emphasized that the decision aims to ensure the safety of passengers and crew in accordance with international recommendations.
Gol
The Brazilian airline Gol also confirmed the cancellation of its scheduled flights to Caracas from Guarulhos International Airport in the São Paulo metropolitan area for this weekend.
Originally, the company had planned one flight on Saturday and another on Sunday to the Venezuelan capital, but both have been suspended.
Gol stated that passengers with tickets for these flights may reschedule their trips, request credit for future flights, or process a refund directly with the company.
Sources consulted noted that the cancellations affect only this weekend’s flights and that the situation will be evaluated for future routes.
Media reports indicate that two other airlines have canceled flights: Caribbean Airlines (Trinidad and Tobago) and LATAM (Chile).
A Risk to Aircraft at All Altitudes
The FAA notice highlights that the situation in Venezuela and the southern Caribbean poses a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes, including overflight as well as arrival and departure phases.
The statement notes that growing military activity and deteriorating security could also affect airports and aircraft on the ground in the Maiquetía flight information region.
The U.S. military deployment in the Caribbean, presented by Washington as part of the fight against drug trafficking, has been interpreted by the Venezuelan regime as pressure to force Maduro out of power.
Last week, the USS Gerald Ford, the U.S. Navy’s largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, joined the operation in the area.
Colombia’s Civil Aeronautics Authority (Aerocivil) stated this Saturday that it is in contact with airlines to ensure air safety on flights to Venezuela. Additionally, it requested that all companies operating in the Maiquetía FIR conduct an internal analysis of the FAA notice’s impact on their operations.
Image: DiarioNY
