Venezuela cancels flights after US warning

International airlines have cancelled flights to the country, a day after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned major airlines that flights over Venezuela are a “potentially dangerous situation”. Three international airlines have cancelled flights out of Venezuela, the airline said on Saturday (November 22).

Brazil’s Gol, Colombia’s Avianca and TAP Air Portugal cancelled flights out of Caracas on Saturday, Reuters reported, citing FlightRadar24 and the official website of Simon Bolivar Maiquetia International Airport.

Colombia’s air navigation authority Aeronautica Civil said the deteriorating security situation and increased military activity in the Maiquetia region posed a “potential risk” to air traffic there. TAP Air Portugal confirmed the cancellation of flights on Saturday and Tuesday, saying the US warning made it clear that Venezuelan airspace was not safe.

Spain's Iberia also suspended flights to Caracas from Monday and said it would review the situation and make a decision. However, the Caracas-Madrid flight scheduled for Saturday departed as normal. Copa Airlines and Wingo, on the other hand, operated their scheduled flights on Saturday.

The FAA notice said the deteriorating security situation in and around Venezuela and the increased military activity could pose a risk to aircraft at all altitudes.

Meanwhile, the US has increased its military presence in the region in recent months, including the US Navy's largest aircraft carrier, at least eight warships and F-35 fighter jets.