The Venezuelan company Laser Airlines announced this Tuesday that it is “impossible” to operate its flights to Madrid until at least December 1. This decision is a response to a notice issued by the Spanish Aviation Safety Authority (AESA).
The origin of the measure dates back to Monday, when Enaire – the Spanish public air navigation management company -, at the request of AESA, published a recommendation for Spanish civil air operators to avoid flying in the airspace controlled by the Maiquetía tower (FIR), which covers all of Venezuela and extends over the Caribbean Sea.
Laser Airlines’ response
Laser, which flies to Spain in alliance with the Plus Ultra airline and has three weekly flights, did not clarify whether these trips will be rescheduled. The company urged passengers to contact by phone or through their travel agencies for more information.
On Sunday, Laser had already postponed a flight to Madrid scheduled for Monday for “operational reasons”, rescheduling it for Thursday, November 27, the airline reported on the Plus Ultra Instagram account.
Estelar also suspends its flights to Madrid
The Venezuelan airline Estelar also suspended its flights between Caracas and Madrid scheduled for November 24, 26 and 28, as well as for December 1, following notices from the Spanish Aeronautical Authority (AESA).
Through a statement on Instagram, the company informed the affected passengers that the rescheduling of these four flights will be announced “once the date of the NOTAMs” – the official notices for air navigation – have expired. He recommended contacting the airline or your travel agency directly to manage the details of the new itinerary.
This increase in cancellations occurs after, until Monday, Estelar had already suspended flights corresponding to the period from November 24 to 28.
The situation is related to a broader crisis in Venezuelan aviation. On Sunday, the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an advisory urging commercial flights to “exercise caution” when flying over Venezuela and the southern Caribbean, citing a “potentially dangerous situation.” This announcement coincided with a broad US military deployment in the area to pressure the government of Nicolás Maduro.
Flight cancellation
As a consequence, from Saturday to Tuesday, international airlines canceled their flights, including Spanish ones. Air EuropaPlus Ultra and Iberia; the Portuguese TAP; the Colombian Avianca; the Brazilian Gol; the South American Latam and the Turkish Turkish Airlines. Among the Venezuelans, in addition to Laser, Estelar also suspended operations.
Given this scenario, the government of Nicolás Maduro met on Monday with airline representatives to coordinate actions to guarantee the continuity of travel.
The Ministry of Transportation highlighted on Instagram that the central message of the meeting was “trust and safety in operations.” As revealed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the National Institute of Civil Aeronautics (INAC) ordered to resume flights within a maximum period of 48 hours.
IATA, which groups 300 airlines, clarified that companies that have suspended flights could lose their traffic rights in Venezuela.
Nicolás Maduro addressed his Transportation Minister, Ramón Velásquez, on Monday to ask him to guarantee the application of the law, without offering more details or specifically mentioning the cancellations.
