The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warning about potential dangers from “heightened military activity” and a large buildup of forces in the region has prompted six international airlines to suspend flights to Venezuela.
The warning comes as the Donald Trump administration is reportedly “poised to launch a new phase of Venezuela-related operations in the coming days,” according to a Reuters report citing US officials.
Airlines Suspending Operations
The six carriers that have cancelled their flights to Venezuela include:
- Spain’s Iberia
- Portugal’s TAP
- Chile’s LATAM
- Colombia’s Avianca
- Brazil’s GOL
- Trinidad and Tobago’s Caribbean
Marisela de Loaiza, president of the Venezuelan Airlines Association (ALAV), did not specify the duration of the flight suspensions.
FAA’s Specific Warning
The US aviation regulator issued a cautious statement detailing the risks:
“Threats could pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes, including during overflight, the arrival and departure phases of flight, and/or airports and aircraft on the ground.”
Ongoing Operations and US Deployments
While six carriers have ceased operations, the following airlines are continuing flights for now:
- Panama’s Copa Airlines
- Spain’s Air Europa and PlusUltra
- Turkish Airlines
- Venezuela’s LASER
The United States has already made significant military deployments to the region, including an aircraft carrier strike group, Navy warships, and a stealth aircraft. Though the US states these deployments are aimed at curbing drug trafficking, the buildup has sparked fears in Caracas that the ultimate goal may be regime change.
Furthermore, the US is set to designate the Cartel de los Soles, allegedly headed by Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, as a terrorist organization starting Monday, a move that some analysts believe could signal impending military action against the Maduro government.