The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has asked the Venezuelan authorities to reconsider the cancellation of operating permits for several airlines – Iberia, TAP, Turkish Airlines, Avianca, LATAM Airlines Columbia and GOL – that have temporarily suspended flights to and from Venezuela, following the issuance of air safety alerts by the governments of the United States and Spain.
They confirmed from the association that airlines gave priority to protecting passengers and their crews, and “avoided operating in high-risk areas.”
He also stressed that the companies reaffirmed their commitment to the country and wish to resume services as soon as the situation becomes safe, when conditions allow, “for the benefit of passengers affected by this situation that is beyond the control of the airlines.”
In this vein, both IATA and its members affirmed their desire to “strengthen cooperation” and work together to find solutions that guarantee air safety and maintain Venezuela’s connection with the rest of the world.
Likewise, it urges government authorities to provide “timely clarification” on the recommendations and conditions reported that led to the temporary suspension of services to and from Venezuela.
The Venezuelan government on Wednesday revoked the privileges granted to these six airlines for “joining acts of state terrorism promoted by the United States government,” which is how Venezuelan authorities referred to the suspension of flights due to security warnings issued by Washington and other countries such as Spain.
In this way, the Venezuelan National Institute of Civil Navigation (INAC), through a post on its Instagram account, announced the “cancellation of the concession” granted to the airlines Iberia, TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines, Avianca, LATAM Airlines of Colombia and the Brazilian GOL.
The entity justified this action “by acceding to acts of state terrorism promoted by the United States Government, and unilaterally suspending its commercial air operations to and from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, based on a NOTAM (English abbreviation for Notice to Aviation Personnel) issued by the Aviation Authority without jurisdiction in the Maiquetía FIR,” the area of airspace controlling the control tower at Maiquetía Airport, in Caracas.
EASA recommendation not to travel
Iberia, Air Europa and Plus Ultra are the three Spanish companies that have decided to temporarily suspend their flights to Venezuela, although the Maduro government has currently only canceled the license of the first company.
After the cancellation of its license became known, IAG explained that it wanted to travel to Venezuela again “as soon as possible” but that its priority was safety and “it cannot operate where there are high risks.”
Following the recommendations of the government Aviation Safety Agency (AESA), Iberia announced last Saturday that it had paralyzed its operations in the country.
But he indicates that he will return “as soon as possible, as soon as the conditions for complete security are met,” because he is confident that “when calm returns to the region, normal operations can also be restored.”
Last Saturday, the Spanish airline announced the suspension of these operations after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an alert to airlines “to exercise extreme caution when operating” in that region “at all altitudes due to the deteriorating security situation and the increase in military activity in or around Venezuela.”
Along these lines, the Venezuelan Interior Minister, Diosdado Cabello, denounced in his program on the state channel VTV that “the United States issued a notice regarding airspace that includes other countries, not just Venezuela,” while “those airlines continue to fly to other countries without any kind of problems, but they suddenly decided not to fly to Venezuela.”