Venezuela Demands Resumption of International Flights Amid US Safety Warnings

In a tense standoff involving safety concerns and political pressure, Venezuela has demanded that international airlines resume their flights within 48 hours or risk losing their clearance to fly there¹. This comes after several airlines suspended their Venezuelan flights following a U.S. aviation safety warning²³.

Political Pressures and Safety Concerns

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a warning to airlines about flying over Venezuela due to the potentially hazardous situation in the region⁴⁵. The FAA notice cited the “worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around Venezuela” and said threats could pose risks for aircraft at all altitudes⁵.

The U.S. has significantly increased its military presence across the Caribbean, deploying bombers, warships, and Marines as part of an expanded campaign targeting drug-trafficking and so-called narco-terrorist networks operating near Venezuela⁴. President Donald Trump has also authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations inside the Caribbean nation⁶.

Simultaneously, the U.S. administration has escalated pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro². Trump has warned Maduro that he can do things the easy way … or the hard way, as the Venezuelan leader vows to defend every inch of the country⁷.

Airlines Respond to Warnings

In response to the FAA warning, several major airlines, including Brazil’s Gol, Colombia’s Avianca, and TAP Air Portugal, canceled departures from Caracas². Other airlines, including Spain's Iberia, Chile and Brazil's LATAM, and Turkish Airlines, have also suspended flights indefinitely³⁸.

TAP stated its flight decision followed U.S. advisories indicating that safety could not be guaranteed². Iberia announced it would suspend flights to Caracas until further notice².

Venezuela's Response and International Reactions

Venezuela responded by revoking the concessions to six international airlines for suspending flights⁹. The Maduro regime accused them of joining the 'terrorism actions' promoted by Washington⁹.

In the international arena, Iran has accused the U.S. of 'bullying' Venezuela with its anti-drug campaign¹⁰. Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic has allowed the U.S. to use its territory to fight international organized crime¹¹.

Current Status

The standoff continues, as airlines have yet to resume their operations despite Venezuela's ultimatum⁹. Amid the escalating tensions, President Trump has stated that he wants to speak with President Maduro¹². The situation remains volatile as the U.S. plans to keep its military contingent in the Caribbean until November 2028¹³.