Venezuela warns international airlines to resume flights or lose clearance

Venezuela has issued a sharp ultimatum to international airlines, giving them 48 hours to resume flights to the country or risk losing their authorisation to operate there permanently. The directive follows a wave of flight suspensions triggered by a US aviation safety alert last week, warning of heightened military activity around Venezuela.

The suspensions began on Friday after the US Federal Aviation Administration issued a notice advising pilots and carriers to exercise caution when flying in the Maiquetía flight information region, which covers the area around Caracas’s main international airport. The alert came as the United States increased military pressure on Venezuela, including deploying the world’s largest aircraft carrier to the southern Caribbean as part of a broader military buildup.

In response, airlines including Iberia, Air Europa, and Ultra from Spain, Gol from Brazil, Latam from Chile, Avianca from Colombia, TAP from Portugal, and Turkish Airlines halted operations to Venezuela. Trinidad and Tobago’s Caribbean Airlines had already suspended flights in September. The sudden pause has further reduced the limited number of international connections still serving the country.

Venezuela’s National Institute of Civil Aviation, known as Inac, which reports to the Ministry of Transport, wrote to the airlines on Monday demanding that they restore services within two days or face having their clearance revoked. Aviation industry organisation Iata quickly warned that such a move would deepen the country’s isolation and urged Venezuela to withdraw its deadline. In a statement, Iata said airlines had paused operations temporarily due to the security warning and were committed to returning once conditions stabilised.

Despite the suspensions, some carriers including Panama’s Copa Airlines and Venezuela’s state owned Conviasa continue to operate. Still, the drop in international flights has placed added strain on a country already considered one of the least connected in the region.

Tensions between Venezuela and the United States have been rising for weeks. The US has justified its increased military presence in the region as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks. Since early September, the US Navy has carried out more than twenty strikes against vessels allegedly transporting illegal drugs in the Caribbean and parts of the Pacific.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has condemned the US actions, accusing Washington of attempting to destabilise or overthrow his government. During a televised address on Monday, he insisted that Venezuela would not be defeated and described the country as “invincible”. The US government continues to regard Maduro as an illegitimate leader, citing the widely criticised 2024 election. However, President Donald Trump has not ruled out the possibility of holding direct talks with Maduro in the future.

The aviation dispute now sits within a broader climate of political and military tension, leaving airlines and passengers uncertain about when normal flight operations may resume.