Activity at the Maiquetía airport remained limited on November 26, despite the fact that the INAC deadline for airlines to resume their flights expired. Security warnings from Spain and the US continue to affect operations
Although the deadline granted by the National Institute of Civil Aeronautics (INAC) for the airlines that suspended flights to and from Venezuela ended this Wednesday, November 26 at noon, activities at the Simón Bolívar International Airport of Maiquetía continue at half capacity, since there are very few companies that are operating.
A tour taken by SuchWhich between morning and noon this Wednesday, it was confirmed that only two flights had left the terminal, according to the information screen: a trip to Bogotá and one to Curacao, both operated by the Venezuelan Laser Airlines, a company that had reported, through its Instagram account, that its flights remained operational.
However, Laser has suspended the route to Madrid, Spain. The airline reported that it is “unable” to operate to this destination, at least until December 1, and explained that the decision is a response to a notice issued by the Spanish Aviation Safety Authority (AESA).
Enaire, a Spanish public air navigation management company, at the request of AESA, recommended that Spanish air operators avoid flying in the airspace controlled by the Maiquetía tower, which covers all of Venezuela and also extends over the Caribbean Sea.
This suggestion joins that of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which warned of a “potentially dangerous situation” in Venezuelan airspace and its surroundings due to the increase in military activity, in the context of the military deployment that the United States maintains in the Caribbean to fight drug trafficking.
A Wingo flight to Bogotá was also scheduled for 9:12 am, which was delayed until midday. This airline said that it maintains its operations normally, but evaluating the security situation with the national authorities: “We are taking into account how security issues are progressing in the Maiquetía airspace, but so far operations continue and risk analysts say that it is safe to operate,” the company detailed.
The flow of passengers at the Simón Bolívar airport was low on November 26. Only four more international flights were planned: Two from Copa Airlines to Panama, one from Conviasa to Havana (Cuba), and another from Laser to Curacao. The first one from Panama and the one from Havana were in the process of being checked at noon.
The airlines that maintain their operations normally are Copa, Wingo, Boliviana de Aviación, Satena and the national airlines Avior and Conviasa.
Although the deadline set by INAC has expired, it is still unknown whether airlines that have not resumed operations will face additional sanctions or permanent revocation of permits. So far, eight companies have canceled their flights to Venezuela: Air Europa, Plus Ultra, TAP, Gol, Latam, Avianca, Iberia and Turkish.
*Read also: Tickets sold out at San Antonio del Táchira airport: travelers look for alternatives
*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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