Venezuela has banned six major international airlines from landing in the country after they failed to meet a 48-hour deadline to resume flights. The affected airlines include Iberia, TAP Portugal, Gol, Latam, Avianca, and Turkish Airlines. Thousands of passengers have been impacted by these flight suspensions and the subsequent ban.
The airlines had previously suspended their routes into Caracas following a warning from the United States. This warning cited "heightened military activity" in the region.
Venezuela's civil aviation authority announced the immediate suspension of landing and take-off rights for the six carriers. The authority stated the airlines were "joining the actions of state terrorism promoted by the United States government" by unilaterally suspending air commercial operations.
This development occurs amid an increased US military presence in the Caribbean. The US states the deployment, which includes approximately 15,000 troops and the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, aims to combat drug trafficking. Venezuela's government maintains that the US actions are an attempt to depose President Nicolás Maduro, whose re-election has been disputed by the Venezuelan opposition and several foreign nations.
Prior to the airline suspensions, the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) had issued an advisory on Friday. It urged flight operators at MaiquetÃa, the international airport serving Caracas, to "exercise caution... at all altitudes due to the worsening security situation and heightened military activity in and around Venezuela."
An attempt by the aviation industry body IATA to mediate the situation, emphasizing its member airlines' willingness to restore operations, did not result in the reversal of the Venezuelan government's decision.