The main airport in Venezuela There were no departures or arrivals this Friday International airlineswhich led to Travel agencies to reinvent themselves and provide ground transportation services And escort to cross the border into Colombia.
Two of the main agencies in Caracas, known for decades for organizing trips throughout Europe, were forced to do so Release “executive” packages. Which includes transportation in air-conditioned vehicles from airports such as San Antonio, in Tachira, to Cúcuta, where passengers connect to flights to other destinations.
These services – which traditional Caracas companies had not previously marketed – It includes advice on immigration procedures To avoid errors in passport stamps, provide guidance on currency exchange and, in some cases, snacks, advance check-in and accommodation at Cúcuta hotels with phone cards included.
The change in business model comes in response to the suspension of operations of airlines such as Copa Airlines, Iberia and Avianca, which left Thousands of Venezuelans are stranded In your plans to travel abroad during the Christmas season or return to the country.
On Friday, the screens were only displayed at Simón Bolívar International Airport, which serves Caracas Nine full-day departures: Four to Curacao, two to Bogotá, two to Panama and one to Moscow. All flights were carried out by Venezuelan companiesAmong them is the state-owned company Conviasa, which is responsible for communication with Russia. Regarding arrivals, services were reported from Havana, three from Curacao, one from Bogota and one from Panama.
The decision by Cuba – which covered the route to Panama – and Wingo and Satina – which traveled to Bogota – to temporarily halt their operations adds to a long history of restrictions that began on November 21 with the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warning about direct flights to Venezuela.
A week after this action, the Donald Trump administration ordered the closure of airspace to Venezuelan aviation, and subsequently, the National Institute of Civil Aeronautics (INAC) canceled the permits of several international airlines, deepening the isolation.
The recent suspensions of Cuba, Wingo and Satina are linked to… Reports of interference in its air navigation systems within the Venezuelan space, which precipitated its temporary withdrawal.
In this context, only a small group of Venezuelan companies operate international flights from Maiquetia Airport, the country’s main airport located a few kilometers from Caracas. Private companies Avior, Estelar, Láser and Turpial, along with state-owned Conviasa, maintain connections with specific destinations.
Cities you can still travel to Bogota, Curacao, Cancun, Havana, Managua, Saint Petersburg and GuangzhouAccording to the latest monitoring of the Tal Cual portal.
Since August, the United States has maintained a military deployment near Venezuelan waters to combat drug trafficking, despite Caracas’ insistence that this is a “threat” aimed at encouraging “regime change” after 26 years of Chavismo rule.
Last weekend, Trump stated that Venezuelan airspace should be considered “completely closed.”
With information from agencies