Venezuelan flag carrier Conviasa is launching a rather unusual, but not at all surprising, route.
Continue reading: Oh My: Conviasa Launching Caracas To Moscow Flight
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
This is obviously to smuggle gold and minerals to get ovet international sanctions. This is basic dictatorship 101.
Two incredibly fun and attractive destinations. The route should do really well!
I’d love it how the Russians are not even hiding how they are controlling Venezuela it’s airline it’s governments and it’s economy, enabling the Venezuelans to get around international sanctions and it’s leaders to continue their grip on the ordinary citizens. #bebest Russia
I am sure the Venezuelans are lined up to take this flight given all disposable income they have. I suspect the cargo in the hold will be amazingly valuable.
Well Venezuela is freezing and this is launching right in time for Moscow's beach season so it makes perfect sense for a leisure route.
Lucky, still waiting on your review of the Turkish flight from Caracas to Istanbul. Maybe you can make a round trip?
By the way, if you're American, you might not have noticed that Venezuela is never in the news anymore because it's not a disaster fetish. They finally ditched their currency and adopted the dollar, and most shortages are over. It's going to take a very long time for them to fix things, but they're no longer on a horrible downwards path.
But is it in an alliance? And what about the loyalty program? How soon before I can get a Conviasa Visa card?
You actually made me legit laugh. The Cleveland/Pensacola was well done. Kudos.
@James S as long as chavistas are in control, Venezuela will be on a downwards path. May not be as drastic as a few years back, but downwards nonetheless.
Clearly CCS-Moscow will carry valuable minerals and corrupt politicians and presumably weapons and other military equipment on the inbound flight.
Belgrade stop was super likely to refuel, given that the plane was carrying parts and personnel to fix the refinery ar Amuay.
Having said that, let's see how long the route to SVO last, given that the other two are gone (Are they?)
Last but not least, I wouldnt want to be stuck in Turkish CCS-IST. I did ICN-IST once and that was enough Turkish for me. However, given how limited my options are, I may as well take those flights...
Why Las Piedras as a Venezuelan network center? It has the national and international stature of, if it were in the US, Little Rock AR (pardon the involuntary pun). Is it where the Venezuelan Gestapo and other stellar institutions are headquartered?
We all know it’s about what’s in the cargo bay of the plane that will make their flights valuable to the regime
@Pierre: The biggest refinery complex in the country is close to Las Piedras. All those flights were bringing equipment and technicians to work on what used to be the biggest complex in the world. Now falling apart due to the lack of maintenance and qualified personnel. Goverment will say it's because of the sanctions.
@Pierre: Correct what @Daniel says about the vicinity of Las Piedras airport. Additionally, it's worth mentioning that the entire Paraguaná peninsula is a tourist place and a tax free zone. It also hosts a large persian and arab community. So other than the spare parts of the refinery, there are many different ties.
For any adventurous soul wanting to take this flight, be warned: CCS is one of the few international airports in the world where even the airport property is dangerous. I've known people who were robbed and kidnapped before even leaving the airport grounds. The only relatively 'safe' area is behind security, though with the state of affairs in Venezuela, the airport services are in some disrepair.
Why do people think this flight would be used to smuggle things like gold etc?
I mean there are dozens of military cargo planes that do the Russia to Venezuela route every week, if they needed something smuggled, that would be way easier.
Your article does not need the political slant. Venezuela is a sovereign nation and should have the right to do as it sees best. The sanctions only affect the poor not those in power. I trust Russia will actually help the Venezuelans recover - the US is doing nothing but the contrary.
On an A 340 - lotsa luck making that flight nonstop eastbound let alone westbound (hence the BEG stop)? One good thing. Because the 340 flies so slowly you wont have to worry about jet lag.
As soon as we speak about countries like Venezuela, Cuba, and Iran the Western jingoists come barrelling along. Pathetic! Folks, the ONLY reason countries of this sort are under US sanction is because they refuse to kowtow to American business interests. For Iran, add the opprobrium of Israel which wants to sunder any country in the region that opposes its apartheid policies. The Caracas to Moscow direct run makes perfect sense, else American slave states in between will do their best to nobble Venezuela. I vaguely remember either Chavez's or Maduro's presidential jet being briefly detained by Spain at the behest of that country's American master during a refuelling stop.
@indopithecus
I live me some bread queues, secret police, class warfare, and no pesky elections. Smell the freedom down there in Bananaland
No mystery at all - Moscow flights will be cargo only for bringing much needed covid vaccines .
Venezuela holds regular elections and even Carter has called them some of the freest in the world. Imagine if a number of major countries placed sanctions on the US and blocked sea cargo. The US would be a basket case almost overnight. As it stands right now just try to buy an appliance - you will encounter a long wait. Imagine now imports blocked for years and now you can see the scope of their problems. At least Russia and Iran provide some assistance.
I can't believe two idiots came here to put their hands on fire for Venezuela's government lmao.
Belgrade is refuel, went once just to see the 340 last year. The 340-300 was landing, great plane only wish I could ride on it.