Aldo Garza
Venezuela has issued a strict 48-hour deadline to international airlines to restart flights to the country or risk losing their clearance to operate there permanently. The ultimatum came from Venezuela’s aviation authority, Inac, which functions under the Ministry of Transport, and was announced on Monday.
Several carriers suspended operations following a warning from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued on Friday, citing concerns over “heightened military activity” and a worsening security situation in Venezuelan airspace. This warning coincides with a significant escalation by the United States, which has deployed the world’s largest aircraft carrier to the southern Caribbean as part of a broader military buildup designed, according to US officials, to combat drug trafficking.
The International Air Transport Association (Iata) has cautioned that enforcing the ultimatum could deepen Venezuela’s growing isolation. Iata said rescinding operational clearance would further diminish air connectivity for a country already among the least connected in Latin America, urging Inac to reconsider the deadline.
Affected airlines include Spain’s Iberia, Air Europa, and Plus Ultra, Brazil’s Gol, Chile’s Latam, Colombia’s Avianca, Portugal’s TAP, and Turkish Airlines. All halted flights in response to the FAA’s advisory. Caribbean Airlines, based in Trinidad and Tobago, had already suspended services in September. Only a limited number of carriers such as Panama’s Copa Airlines and Venezuela’s state-operated Conviasa continue to fly to and from Maiquetía International Airport, which serves the capital Caracas.
In the FAA’s Notice to Air Missions, pilots were urged to “exercise caution when operating in the Maiquetía flight information region at all altitudes”, citing increasing instability and military maneuvers around Venezuela. The resulting suspensions have sharply reduced international connections.
Iata emphasized that affected airlines have only temporarily halted flights and remain committed to restoring service “as soon as conditions allow.” Industry observers say the forced resumption could pose safety and liability risks.
Geopolitical tensions have intensified since the US began expanding its military role in the region. The US Navy has conducted at least 21 strikes on vessels alleged to be smuggling narcotics since early September, mostly in the Caribbean but partially in Pacific waters as well.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has publicly condemned the military buildup and naval strikes, accusing the United States of attempting to remove him from power. Speaking on his television program on Monday, Maduro defiantly stated, “They will not be able to defeat Venezuela, we are invincible.”
The United States has previously declared Maduro an illegitimate president, referencing his 2024 re-election, widely discredited as fraudulent. Despite this, US President Donald Trump signaled potential future dialogue, telling reporters last week that “at a certain period of time, I’ll be talking to him.”
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