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The National Institute of Civil Aviation (INAC) of Venezuela informed international airlines that suspended their flights to the country that they must resume operations within 48 hours, or risk losing their traffic rights and operating permits in Venezuelan territory, according to statements cited by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The official message comes after, within a matter of days, at least twenty flights to and from Caracas were canceled following an alert from the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States (FAA) that recommended exercising extreme caution when flying over Venezuelan airspace and the southern Caribbean Sea.
Wave of cancellations and airlines' response
Iberia, Air Europa, Plus Ultra, and other European and Latin American airlines have temporarily suspended their routes to Caracas, citing security reasons and announcing that they will resume flights only when there are full guarantees for operations. In some cases, such as Iberia, the suspension extends at least until December 1, in line with the recommendations of the Spanish State Aviation Safety Agency.
IATA has emphasized that the suspensions are temporary measures based on technical risk analyses, in compliance with the standards of the Chicago Convention, and has warned that forcing the resumption of flights without clarity regarding the safety of the airspace could increase Venezuela's isolation and further reduce its already limited international connectivity.
Travel warnings and effects for passengers
In light of the uncertainty, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has updated its travel recommendations and advises against traveling to Venezuela except in cases of necessity, urging citizens to stay informed about possible last-minute changes and cancellations.
Passengers are facing rebookings, longer routes through third countries, and, in many cases, the impossibility of flying on the planned dates. Consulates, such as Spain's in Caracas, recommend travelers contact their airlines directly and constantly check the status of their flights before heading to the airport.
The crisis lies at the intersection of air safety and international politics: alerts from the FAA and European authorities, issued amidst increasing tension between the United States and Venezuela, have led airlines to prioritize the safety of passengers and crews, while the Venezuelan government seeks to avoid another indication of isolation with its 48-hour ultimatum.
While IATA insists on dialogue and coordination among regulators to assess airspace risk, several countries are considering extending or tightening restrictions on flights to and from Venezuela, which could prolong the situation beyond the deadline set by Caracas and leave thousands of travelers awaiting political and technical decisions.
The escalation currently affecting Venezuelan skies did not emerge from thin air: it is preceded by months of deterioration in airspace security, alerts from the U.S. FAA regarding increased military activity and potential interference with navigation systems, and a chain response from airlines that have chosen to suspend routes rather than expose themselves to an incident in an increasingly unstable environment.
In this context, the 48-hour ultimatum from INAC presents a direct clash between two logics: that of the government, which aims to prevent a new symbol of isolation by revoking permits from those who do not fly, and that of an industry that operates under international safety standards and is only willing to return when regulators provide clear guarantees.
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