system Nicolas Maduro He carried out his threat On Wednesday, it canceled the flight privileges of six airlines Which suspended its operations after a warning from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which asked companies to “exercise caution” when flying over Venezuela in the face of increasing military activity in the region.
The measure, published in the Official Gazette on 26 November and announced by the Ministry of Transport and the National Civil Aviation Institute (INAC) in the early hours of Thursday, affects… Iberia, TAP Portugal, Avianca, LATAM Colombia, Turkish Airlines and GOL. They all canceled their routes to and from Caracas after the US warning.
According to the Venezuelan authorities, these companies “They have joined the acts of state terrorism promoted by Washington.” The decisions were made based on a memorandum issued by an “air authority without jurisdiction” for Venezuela’s Flight Information Region (FIR), which covers the country’s air and sea space and part of the Caribbean.
In light of this climate of tension, the Venezuelan regime gave airlines 48 hours to resume their flights. The deadline expired on Wednesday afternoon. No operations have been resumed.
“If they do not renew the flights, do not resume them again. “Save your planes and we preserve our dignity.”In his program, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello launched “Con el mazo dando.” He added sarcastically while laughing: “Those who are here, and those who came from other countries, stay here.”
The suspension already affects more than 8,000 travelers and at least 40 flights, according to the National Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (Avavit).
In addition to the six companies mentioned, They also suspended flights with Air Europa, Plus Ultra and Caribbean Sea. And Venezuelan Airlines Laser and stellar. The latter two companies suspended operations until December 1, due to operational problems with their Spanish suppliers.
Only for now Cuba, Huengo, Boliviana de Aviation, and Satina – In addition to the local company Avior and the state-owned Conviasa – They maintain their operations in the country.
While international airlines canceled their flights for safety reasons, around noon on Wednesday, a US plane carrying 175 deported migrants landed at Simón Bolívar International Airport – the main terminal in Caracas.
According to a source in the Ministry of Transport quoted by EFE, this arrival “shows that there is no danger in Venezuelan airspace” and exposes Washington’s “double-speak.” Caracas later claimed that the United States had requested “special permits” to operate repatriation routes.
The air crisis comes at the same time that Washington is expanding its military operation, “Lance South,” which began on November 14. The North American Air Forces confirmed this week that B-52H bombers carried out attack maneuvers in the Caribbean, without specifying the exact location.
In turn, dominican republic Announce it Will allow the United States to use temporarily Two airports in Santo Domingo To obtain logistical support in its war against drug trafficking, which Caracas described as “imperial madness.”
With information from agencies