The airlines that have confirmed the suspension of flights to the country are Iberia, the Portuguese TAP, the Colombian Avianca, the Trinidadian Caribbean, the Brazilian GOL, the Chilean Latam, Turkish Airlines and Latam Airlines Colombia
At least six airlines, from different countries, canceled their flights to Venezuela, after last Friday The United States issued an alert to air operators about potential risks when flying in the Maiquetía Flight Information Region (SVZM FIR), due to the “worsening security situation and increased military activity in or around Venezuela.”
The airlines that have confirmed the suspension of flights to the country are Iberia, the Portuguese TAP, the Colombian Avianca, the Trinidadian Caribbean, the Brazilian GOL and the Chilean Latam.
Latam Airlines Colombia announced this Saturday that for the “safety of its passengers and crews” it will “preventively” cancel the operation of flights on the Bogotá-Caracas-Bogotá route on November 23 and 24.
The airline Turkish Airlines has canceled its scheduled flights to Venezuela between November 24 and 28, as confirmed this Sunday to EFE by the president of the Association of Airlines in Venezuela (ALAV), Marisela de Loaiza.
The US urged commercial airlines and pilots to take extreme precautions at all altitudes because they consider that they can “represent a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes, including during overflight, arrivals or departures or with planes on the ground.
Iberia was the first to make the decision to cancel the flights and they said that they will evaluate the situation to decide when to resume operations.
*Read also: Iberia cancels flights to Venezuela after US warning of risks in airspace
The Portuguese TAP canceled a flight scheduled for this Sunday and another for Tuesday, November 25. They said that with this measure they seek to guarantee the safety of passengers and crew, “in accordance with international recommendations.”
In Colombia, Avianca cancels flights. They explained to EFE that the suspension is due to “operational adjustments and we are evaluating the situation like all airlines.” This airline has two daily flights from Caracas to Bogotá.
The Brazilian Gol announced that it canceled its flights to Caracas scheduled for this weekend. The airline informed passengers with tickets for those flights that they can “reschedule their trips, request a credit or request a refund directly.”
Tensions between Washington and Caracas have grown since mid-August, when Donald Trump’s administration deployed military equipment to the Caribbean to fight drug trafficking. To date, the US has destroyed more than 20 vessels, actions that have left more than 80 dead.
Nicolás Maduro affirms that US operations do not work to minimize drug trafficking from the south to their territory, but rather they really seek regime change in the country.
Vladimir Padrino López, Minister of Defense, said on Saturday, November 22, that no air-naval deployment is going to take away Venezuela’s independence.
*Journalism in Venezuela is carried out in a hostile environment for the press with dozens of legal instruments in place to punish the word, especially the laws “against hate”, “against fascism” and “against the blockade.” This content was written taking into consideration the threats and limits that, consequently, have been imposed on the dissemination of information from within the country.
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