Several international airlines, including Turkish Airlines, Iberia, and Latam, have canceled flights to Venezuela following a warning from the US Federal Aviation Administration about risks in Venezuelan airspace. The alert cites a deterioration in security and increased military activity in the region. Colombian President Gustavo Petro criticized the measure as a covert blockade affecting populations.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a warning on Friday to airlines about a 'potentially dangerous situation' when flying over Venezuela, urging extreme caution due to the 'deterioration of the security situation and the increase in military activity' in the country and its surroundings. The FAA mentioned interferences in the Global Navigation Satellite System since September near Venezuela, as well as reports of failures on routes. Although it did not prohibit flights, the alert has triggered mass cancellations.
Turkish Airlines confirmed on Sunday the suspension of its IST-CCS-IST flights from November 24 to 28 for 'operational reasons,' and recommended affected passengers contact for rebookings, using a waiver code for involuntary changes. Previously, on Saturday, Iberia suspended operations to Caracas 'until further notice'; Avianca, Latam Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, and Gol canceled their schedules, with Latam affecting Bogotá-Caracas routes on November 23-24 and offering refunds or changes without penalty for a year.
Venezuela's Airlines Association warned of disruptions to international routes due to 'activities unrelated to civil aviation' in Maiquetía's airspace. Platforms like FlightRadar24 recorded deviations by KLM, Air Europa, and others to avoid Venezuela.
In response, Colombia's Civil Aeronautics (Aerocivil) activated coordination measures, analyzing the impact and adjusting routes to ensure safety. 'Travelers can rest assured: we are adjusting routes so all flights remain safe,' the entity assured.
President Gustavo Petro questioned the alert, stating: 'There must be normal flights to all Latin American countries from Latin America and the world. Countries are not blockaded, because peoples are blockaded and that must be a crime against humanity.' Petro criticized US interference in other states' affairs and advocated for multilateral solutions, amid regional tensions from US military presence in the Caribbean, including the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford.