Tensions between Venezuela and the United States have now spilled directly into the commercial aviation sphere.

Venezuela Bans Six International Airlines

Venezuela has revoked operating rights for six international airlines that suspended flights to the country after a United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warning about the safety of flying in Venezuelan airspace.

The carriers affected are:

• Avianca
• Gol
• Iberia
• LATAM Colombia
• TAP Air Portugal
• Turkish Airlines

Each of these airlines halted service to Venezuela after the FAA advised operators to exercise extreme caution due to a worsening security situation and increased military activity in and around Venezuelan airspace.

In response, Venezuela’s civil aviation authority issued an ultimatum giving airlines 48 hours to resume flights or lose their permits. Six carriers did not comply within that timeframe and the government proceeded to revoke their operating rights, which effectively bans them from serving Venezuela for the time being.

Authorities in Caracas accused the airlines of joining what they described as actions of state terrorism promoted by the United States. The affected carriers have framed their suspensions as safety-driven decisions that follow international risk assessments rather than political instructions.

Impact On Connectivity

The ban further reduces Venezuela’s already limited international connectivity. These six airlines provide or have provided links between Venezuela and key markets in Europe and Latin America, including Spain, Portugal, Colombia, Brazil and Turkey, all of which are home to significant Venezuelan diaspora communities.

Some foreign airlines that suspended flights have not had their permits revoked. Air Europa and Plus Ultra, for example, have halted operations but retain authorization to serve Venezuela, which may allow for a quicker restart if conditions improve. By contrast, the six banned carriers are now formally blocked from operating in the market unless Venezuela reverses its decision.

Venezuela is not completely isolated. Panama-based Copa Airlines and its low cost affiliate Wingo continue to operate flights to and from the country, and domestic and regional carriers maintain limited links to nearby destinations. Even so, overall capacity has fallen, and passengers who relied on direct connections to Europe and South America now face longer routings, fewer choices, and higher fares.

From an airline perspective, the move highlights the difficult balance between operational safety and political risk. Carriers that chose to follow a safety directive from one regulator now face punitive action from another state, with no clear timetable for a resolution that would satisfy both sides.

CONCLUSION

Venezuela’s decision to revoke operating rights for Iberia, TAP, Avianca, LATAM Colombia, Gol, and Turkish Airlines turns temporary safety-driven suspensions into an open-ended ban tied directly to geopolitical tension. The development further constrains the Venezuelan market, complicates travel for citizens and diaspora communities and underscores how quickly political disputes can sever air links that many passengers depend on.

For now, Venezuela remains accessible only through a shrinking list of carriers and hubs, and any restoration of service by the banned airlines will depend both on an improved security assessment in Venezuelan airspace and on a political decision in Caracas to welcome those airlines back.

Finally, an editorial note. If we’ve learned anything from the Iraq debacle, it should be to demand clear and convincing proof before the US launches another war. No, sorry, I’m not going to take your word for it that the Maduro regime is directing illegal drugs into the USA to a degree that justifies the invasion of Venezuela and the power vacuum that will come by toppling its dictator. Prove it…show us the evidence that Maduro and his henchmen are responsible and seek more disproportionate responses than blowing up ships and fomenting regime change with no plan to secure the peace afterwards.

Get Daily Updates

Join our mailing list for a daily summary of posts! We never sell your info.

SUBSCRIBE!

You have Successfully Subscribed!