Venezuela is threatening to permanently ban international airlines unless they resume flights within 48 hours.🚨

The crisis began when multiple carriers—including Iberia, Air Europa, Avianca, Latam, and Turkish Airlines—suspended Venezuelan operations after a U.S. aviation warning cited “heightened military activity” near Maiquetía International Airport in Caracas.

The flight suspensions come against a backdrop of increased U.S. military presence in the Caribbean, including the deployment of its largest aircraft carrier and a series of strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels. President Maduro has described these moves as an attempted destabilization of his government.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has pushed back against Venezuela’s deadline, warning it would only further isolate an already poorly-connected country. Most airlines insist they’re merely pausing operations temporarily, not abandoning routes.

While some carriers, such as Panama’s Copa Airlines, continue operating, the overall reduction in service has severely limited Venezuela’s international access at a time of heightened political and security tensions.🛬

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Please feel free to contact us for any assistance you may need at marine@antaeustravel.com / corporate@antaeustravel.com or at +30 211 10 42 100.