With the help of Argentina, the US is now in custody of an ex-Mahan Air Boeing 747-300 that is says was illegally transferred to a Venezuelan cargo carrier in violation of international sanctions against the Islamic Republic. US Seizes 747-300 In Argentina, Drawing Rebuke Of Iran And Venezuela The 747 was purchased by Emtrasur, a […]
Air France Suspends Service To Venezuela
Blaming COVID-19, Air France will suspend flights to Caracas, Venezuela for up to two years. But it wants to return…at least that is the official line. Air France Will “Suspend” Service To Venezuela Air France was one of the last international carriers to maintain service to Caracas. In fact, Air France has served Caracas continuously for […]
Why Venezuela Banned TAP Air Portugal
While most airlines have suspended service to troubled Venezuela, a handful have continued, including TAP Air Portugal. But the Star Alliance member now finds itself condemned by Venezuelan authorities and suspended for 90 days. Venezuela Punishes TAP Air Portugal For Transporting Opposition Leader Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó recently concluded a multi-stop tour which included […]
US Downgrades Aviation Safety Rating In Venezuela
The United States has downgraded the safety rating of Venezuela, citing continued civil unrest and an inability to meet basic standards for safety. Under the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program, countries are assigned either a Category 1 or Category 2. In short, Category 1 meets international safety standards and Category 2 does not. Per […]
Airlines Are Praying For Regime Change In Venezuela
Airlines are hoping for regime change in Venezuela. They see it as the only way of collecting all the money trapped in the Bolivarian Republic and the only path to restore air service. Thanks to strict hard currency export controls and continued malevolence on the part of the Maduro regime, several airlines have money trapped […]
As Air Service To Venezuela Halts, Syria Sees New Flights
Venezuela and Syria are a juxtaposition of two troubled lands. One is descending into civil war while the other is emerging from it. That’s demonstrated in commercial air service schedules. Earlier this week, the Trump Administration suspended all flights to Venezuela. Kevin McAleenan, Acting Homeland Security Secretary, warned that “conditions in Venezuela threaten the safety […]
Bowing To Pilot Pressure, American Airlines Abandons Venezuela
American Airlines quickly suspended service to Venezuela after its pilots were instructed by union leaders to refuse all trips to Venezuela. The situation in Venezuela continues to deteriorate. In response, the U.S. State Department issued a new travel warning advising against all non-essential travel to the Bolivarian Republic. As reported by The Foward Cabin, AA Captain Dennis […]
Air France Cancels Venezuela Flights While Air Europa Offers Crews Kidnapping Advice
In the wake of escalating civil unrest, Air France is temporarily halting flights to Caracas. Meanwhile, Air Europa has issued an advisory to crews on how to avoid kidnappings… It is a historic day in Venezuela. The Maduro regime has stationed troops at the Colombian and Brazilian borders in order to block humanitarian aid from […]
How Airlines Are Going To Great Lengths To Avoid Venezuela Layovers
As the economic and political crises in Venezuela continue to worsen, more airline crews are choosing to avoid ever even stepping out of the airport during layovers. That has forced airlines to get creative. While many carriers have scaled back or eliminated service to Caracas and other Venezuelan cities during the on-going deterioration of the Bolivarian […]
Venezuela’s Maduro Attacked, US Involvement Alleged
President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela was the subject of a reported assassination attempt yesterday. He alleged US involvement indirectly but details remain incomplete. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com. If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today. Assassination Attempt on […]
American Airlines May Soon Find Itself Locked Out of Venezuela
Last month, American Airlines announced increased service to Caracas, Venezuela. While other U.S. and European carriers have abandoned air service to the beleaguered nation, AA has steadfastly remained. But that could soon change. American flies twice daily to Caracas and once daily to Maracaibo. In December, AA will fly three times daily on select days. But […]
Venezuela Bans Copa Airlines
In an escalating diplomatic spat between Venezuela and Panama, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has banned Copa Airlines from flying to the Bolivarian Republic. Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela shrugged over the news. Although word of the ban sent Copa stock tumbling on Friday, Varela asserted Venezuelans would be far more hurt by the news than the airline. Panama is […]
Caracas Airport is a Sad Window into Venezuela
The decaying Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas provides a window into the sad reality of the life and times of Venezuela. I’ve talked before about the sad state of affairs in Venezuela…a once-leading nation in Latin America that has disintegrated into a dangerous banana republic. I’d rather walk the streets of Mogadishu, Sana’a, or Aleppo […]
Delta, Air France, Iberia, and Avianca Suspend Service to Venezuela
Amid growing civil unrest and social fissures so deep it may take a revolution to restore order, four more airlines are suspending service to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. On Sunday, a sham election will take place in which President Nicolás Maduro will further try to consolidate power through the creation of a constituent assembly. This assembly will […]
United Airlines Suspends Service to Venezuela
Venezuela is on the verge of economic collapse and United Airlines has decided enough is enough. Effective July 01, 2017 United is suspending service to Caracas (CCS). Although corrupt President Nicolás Maduro has promised to prevent any carrier who halts service to Venezuela from ever returning, United has decided that the route is not meeting financial expectations. […]
Getting a Tourist Visa for Venezuela
I wrote earlier this week about my desire to visit Venezuela and my failure to check entry requirements. Once I realized my mistake, I planned to quickly rectify it by following the instructions, finding a nearby consulate or the Embassy in Washington DC and expediting the process. I looked into how I would begin and […]
How to Not Make a Mistake When Visiting Venezuela
If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com. If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today. Desire to Go For years I have wanted to visit Venezuela. For some that might seem odd, for others obvious – for my wife it just seemed dangerous. But between […]
United’s Clever Trick to Keep Crews Out of Dangerous Venezuela
The situation in Venezuela is not getting any better. With violence increasing as the economy further descends into chaos, United Airlines now fears for the safety of its crews. Rather than suspend service completely, it has taken a novel to approach to ensure that its crews spend only an hour on the ground in Caracas. United […]
Alitalia the Latest Carrier to Cut Service to Venezuela
The situation unfolding in Venezuela fascinates me. There you have a state on the verge of failure with hyperinflation and a government suffering from a foreign currency crunch. The result: airlines are not getting paid for their service and are bailing one by one. The latest Caracas casualty is Alitalia. For the last 11 years, […]
Air Canada Suspends Service to the Failing State of Venezuela
Air Canada is halting its thrice-weekly service between Toronto and Caracas as hyperinflation and violence continue to engulf Venezuela. In a statement, Air Canada said– Due to ongoing civil unrest in Venezuela, Air Canada can no longer ensure the safety of its operation and has suspended flights to Caracas until further notice. Passengers who are […]