Venezuela has ordered international airlines to resume flights within 48 hours or risk losing their authorisation to operate in the country. Many carriers had suspended service after the U.S. aviation regulator warned of increased military activity around the country.
That warning coincided with heightened U.S. pressure on Caracas, including the deployment of a major aircraft carrier to the southern Caribbean. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) cautioned Venezuela’s aviation authority that revoking airlines’ clearance would further isolate the nation.
Several major airlines from Europe and Latin America halted flights in response to the FAA’s advisory about security risks in the Maiquetía flight region. While some carriers, such as Copa and Venezuela’s state-owned Conviasa, continue to operate, international connectivity has been sharply reduced. IATA urged Venezuelan authorities to withdraw the deadline and said that airlines plan to return once conditions improve.
Meanwhile, tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela continue to escalate amid military activity, drug-interdiction operations, and disputes over President Nicolás Maduro’s legitimacy.
Venezuelan national carrier Conviasa