This situation is getting kind of messy. Airlines are stuck between a rock and a hard place, as tensions between the United States and Venezuela escalate…
In this post:
Venezuela bans airlines that pull service due to US warning
Recently, the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen), warning of a “potentially hazardous situation” when flying over Venezuela. Per the warning:
OPERATORS ARE ADVISED TO EXERCISE CAUTION WHEN OPERATING IN THE MAIQUETIA FLIGHT INFORMATION REGION AT ALL ALTITUDES DUE TO THE WORSENING SECURITY SITUATION AND HEIGHTENED MILITARY ACTIVITY IN OR AROUND VENEZUELA. 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.
While no airlines from the United States fly to Venezuela, several foreign airlines decided to suspend flights to Venezuela, following the warning by the US. This includes carriers like Avianca, GOL, Iberia, LATAM, TAP Air Portugal, and Turkish Airlines.
Venezuela is furious that some airlines made this decision, arguing that the FAA has no jurisdiction over its airspace, and it has accused the carriers of “joining the actions of state terrorism promoted by the United States government” by “unilaterally suspending air commercial operations.”
Venezuela has claimed that any airline that doesn’t resume service to the country within 48 hours will have its operational permits revoked, meaning the airlines won’t be allowed to fly to the country in the future.
As you’d expect, officials from other governments are angry about Venezuela’s decision, arguing that revoking operating rights for airlines is a “totally disproportionate” response. Obviously these airlines don’t intend to cancel service to Venezuela in the long run, but instead, these are just temporary suspensions, while they figure out what’s going on.
All of this comes as tensions between the United States and Venezuela keep rising. The US made made its largest military deployment to the Caribbean in decades, as Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro has been accused of supplying drugs that have killed Americans. Maduro has of course denied this, and has accused Trump of trying to oust him.
Is Venezuela overplaying its hand with airlines?
It goes without saying that Venezuela’s government is taking extreme measures in responding to the FAA’s advisory.
Now, we don’t fully know what information the United States government has that prompted this warning. But either way, I think most “responsible” foreign carriers would take some caution with such a warning, and perhaps limit flights. After all, if the United States is warning of a risk to aircraft at all altitudes, and of potential military activity, that should be cause for concern.
But of course Venezuela isn’t happy about that. That being said, I think the country is greatly overplaying its hand here. If airlines aren’t comfortable flying to a country, then they’re definitely not going to be comfortable resuming service under the premise of “fly here within the next 48 hours, or else.”
I have to imagine that Venezuela will eventually back down from taking this approach. After all, good air connectivity is important for countries. Then again, if the goal is to become more isolated, then perhaps that’s not the case.
Bottom line
Tensions between the United States and Venezuela are escalating. The United States warned airlines of the risk of using Venezuelan airspace. As a result, several airlines decided to pull service to the country.
That’s something that the Venezuelan government takes issue with, and they’ve responded by accusing these airlines of supporting US “state terrorism,” and threatening to ban them if they don’t immediately resume flights. I suspect that Venezuela is overplaying its hand here, but it’ll be interesting to see how this all plays out.
What do you make of Venezuela’s threats against airlines?
The "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" is what we should be focused on...
That's the US threatening international crimes against civil aviation? Against aircraft in flight? That's also threatening mass murder.
All nations have legal, ethical, moral, and treaty obligations (as well as enlightened self-interest), no matter if their security apparatus is...
The "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" is what we should be focused on...
That's the US threatening international crimes against civil aviation? Against aircraft in flight? That's also threatening mass murder.
All nations have legal, ethical, moral, and treaty obligations (as well as enlightened self-interest), no matter if their security apparatus is being run by blustering criminals eager to fake up some "manliness".
We shouldn't treat the American regime's threats any differently than we would regarding Putin doing that to airlines over another nation.
And yes, Ben's post is on-topic, this is literally a blog about aviation around the world - the people wanting him to stay away from "politics" (which is literally human life in civilization, literally everything- find a friend to explain it to you) are likely uncomfortable that their chosen political affiliation is so deranged in so many obvious ways.
I would stray away from politics as a travel blog/site. First, it seems the authors are deeply uncommitted to factually verify claims made in a lot of matters on foreign policy topics. Second, they also push their views on to others. If I wanted politics, I could go to other places.
'Venezuela' isn't saying anything, you mean the Maduro genocide narco-regime, he's not the voice of the country nor represents any Venezuelan (myself included) and he lost the latest election by 80% landslide. So every decision that illegitimate dictator makes is not the country decision. All decent Venezuelans are really happy and grateful that the Republicans are in power (and not the comrades of the previous admin) and we are finally seeing a light of hope....
'Venezuela' isn't saying anything, you mean the Maduro genocide narco-regime, he's not the voice of the country nor represents any Venezuelan (myself included) and he lost the latest election by 80% landslide. So every decision that illegitimate dictator makes is not the country decision. All decent Venezuelans are really happy and grateful that the Republicans are in power (and not the comrades of the previous admin) and we are finally seeing a light of hope. The Liberation of of my Country by the leadership of President Trump and Sec Marco Rubio is imminent and we will be forever grateful!.
Try to get to Acapulco from the states…we did! Venezula it a breeze…Adios
Good . For other safety , cancel all flights from those places which have diseases .
I don’t know, I don’t think many American citizens feel threatened by Venezuela or even think about Venezuela at all. Most Americans probably couldn’t even point to Venezuela on a map.
This seems like a massive overreach by the US government trying to impose its will on foreign countries. The US should be worried about actual threats to its safety not countries like Venezuela that harbor little to no threat.
Let me just be clear here, this isn’t being pushed by the citizens of the US and you painting the entire US population with that brush is with pure ignorance.
We the people have ZERO idea why The Orange Anti-Christ is going after Venezuela (illegally I might add) I’m sure it’s just to be the petulant little child that we’ve all seen operate with no clear reason than “because.”
So, do me a favor yoloswag420, keep your ignorant uninformed opinions to yourself.
please dont include yourself with "we the people", cause you are obviously not American... We know EXACTLY why & also, no one here is going to "do you a favor" lol... last note: I don't even vote republican I cant believe how ignorant, complacent, & naive the democrat voter base is... thats embarrassing...
Exactly WTF was your blathering diatribe supposed to communicate? Also, you know what sunshine, you don’t know me so don’t even have that pea eff-ing brain hurt itself trying to be the all seeing & knowing because you don’t know SH&T…
Americans/seppos can't point to their own land on a map, never mind Venezuela.
Well Dear Leader announced today that ground strikes are imminent in Venezuela.
European airlines have to be careful due to crew layovers, not so much Avianca or whomever else greases palms in the country.
The US is a terrorist state so eh.
US is a damn country genius... where do you tools come from? lol (probably Canadian lol)
Thankfully not Canadian so I can easily avoid dumb arse seppos like yourself.
Mike, I totally agree, those seppos are indeed terrorists, they just can't handle being criticised at all.
They'll be fine with just Aeroflot and Cubana
The TDS peeps here are over the top...on President Trump get a life will you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not sure why so many on travel blogs are on the left side and have the TDS syndrome so bad... may need medication soon.
So you’d be trusting the warning of an aviation authority controlled like Russian state authorities aka American Trump to post unwarranted information about aircraft around Venezuela- just WOW-.again where is the evidence
The evidence will be evident when the shooting starts.
This "warning" is either 1. An intimidation tactic or 2. Giving enough advance warning because the missiles are on the way.
As far as the comments about US will , etc. Its clear that Venezuela and the US are at odds, and Venezuela makes no bones about saying what they think about the US.. Unfortunately for them, the current occupant in the White House says what he thinks, unlike most Presidents (not that I agree,...
This "warning" is either 1. An intimidation tactic or 2. Giving enough advance warning because the missiles are on the way.
As far as the comments about US will , etc. Its clear that Venezuela and the US are at odds, and Venezuela makes no bones about saying what they think about the US.. Unfortunately for them, the current occupant in the White House says what he thinks, unlike most Presidents (not that I agree, but you know where he stands). If Maduro disappears, it will be a good thing... there I said it.
In my experience, Venezuela is a strange market. The aviation sector serves mainly to enable emigration of Venezuelan nationals, especially the Middle and wealthy classes. Outbound load factors are of the order of 90% and inbound only 70%. This has been the case for years. Madrid and Lisbon are the favoured destinations. Turkish Airlines is slightly different because it provides access to/from other sanctioned countries, Cuba, Iran and Russia.
The author of this article clearly supports facism. The USA was the initiator of the action and the article is both titled and reads as if Venezuela is the problem.
There is no question that the US will invade Venezuela for oil and rare earth minerals. We can think back when Putin amassed tanks and soldiers on Ukrainian border for a month before invading and attacking Ukraine, without western reaction. No NATO/ European emergency meeting was held to confront the impending military incursion. What does "supply and demand" principle mean to the world's top capitalist country? We have to eradicate the demand before we can...
There is no question that the US will invade Venezuela for oil and rare earth minerals. We can think back when Putin amassed tanks and soldiers on Ukrainian border for a month before invading and attacking Ukraine, without western reaction. No NATO/ European emergency meeting was held to confront the impending military incursion. What does "supply and demand" principle mean to the world's top capitalist country? We have to eradicate the demand before we can eliminate the supply: An impossible & untenable goal to achieve. We had lost LBJ's The War on Poverty; Nixon's and Reagan's The War on Drugs; and losing Bush Jr.'s The War on Terror. But we continue to escalate and expand "regime change" doctrine in non-European countries while ordinary Americans are struggling with basic life necessities. Maduro's days are numbered just like Saddam Hussein's. Since post WWII, we have been in wars for eight consecutive decades depleting treasury, escalating deaths count and collateral damages at home and abroad. When enough is enough and focus on investment at home? We are the world's top warmonger, under pretext of democracy and human rights. It is the only category that we top the list. Not hotels. Not airlines. Not education. Not the best, safest and happiest country to live in, according to the world's ranking categories. If you disagree with the last sentence and spew " live elsewhere", then you are an unequivocal native born heterosexual white male.
. . . who said they subscribe to the teachings of Jesus.
Venezuela's oil is heavy, sulphurous ("sour"), and pretty-much the oil of last resort. I doubt the United States is that desperate.
@PeteAU
In an global sense that is certainly true, but there are various refineries (in USA and elsewhere) set up for it.
We are the world’s worst warmonger
Great idea. Members of Tren de Aragua will no longer be able to fly to US non-stop. But how will they go back, if there are no direct flights?
You can still fly to Venezuela via an old house attached to a bunch of balloons, just like the old man in the movie Up! did.
If you have time, read today's Wall Street Journal story on drug smuggling via water from Columbia and Venezuela. There's an interview with a Columbian crewman on some of these runs. It struck me how matter of fact the crewman was. It's just about the money ($10,000 per trip for his role and up to $100,000 for the boat's pilot), and the potential of a fatal airstrike is an acceptable risk of the job. I...
If you have time, read today's Wall Street Journal story on drug smuggling via water from Columbia and Venezuela. There's an interview with a Columbian crewman on some of these runs. It struck me how matter of fact the crewman was. It's just about the money ($10,000 per trip for his role and up to $100,000 for the boat's pilot), and the potential of a fatal airstrike is an acceptable risk of the job. I wonder if he believes the great majority of trips will make the run safely, he and his family are despirate for cash, or he just doesn't value his life.
It's ColOmbia. Not Columbia.
Sorry!
@Mark F
If there was not a very fertile market for the products in developed countries, the Columbian crewman would find other means of employment.
I don't know, justindev. Wealthy countries with good employment opportunities still have thier share of people willing to take on questionable "work". In terms of blunting the drug trade, the over water component represents a choke point for intervention. Its much more feasible to affect the behavior of a couple hundred fast boat crew members than 1.5 million American cocaine addicts. Addiction and dependence by their nature are highly resistant to change.
Orange man bad. All those videos showing poor fishing boat being blown up. We can all see they are transporting square groupers. Square groupers are the most popular fish imported from south America.
I mean, the NOTAM is clearly politically motivated and has nothing to do with the situation on the ground. I suppose it's more about possible issues with insurance rather than airlines actually being worried about safety.
It has to do with airplane being potentially shot down. Who knows, when US planes fly over Venezuela, where the return fire will be directed. That should be obvious.
I suspect their insurance companies didn't like the idea of their insured being in a war zone.
Just look at how many times airspace over Iran and Iraq cleared out before Iran's nuclear ambitions were set back.
Now to get Ukrainian airspace reopened to the world....
“as Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro has been accused of supplying drugs that have killed Americans” - Accused by whom? A person who lies about everything and everyone.
The families of all the dead Americans.
As much as I love Latin America and as much as I would love to go to Venezuela one day, who on their right mind wants to fly there right now?
GR asks who wants to fly there right now?
I suspect that perhaps the Pilots of the B-21 Raider and B-52 Fleet?
Yeah. Because warmongering (of course, on the poor) is heroic and super productive.
The B-21 isn't in service yet, and won't be for several years, at least.
Thank you Brian, I stand corrected …. :-)
People who live there? People who do business there? People who have family ties there?
Why do people always keep posting this crap whenever flights to some high-risk destination are mentioned. Not everyone who flies is on a holiday. There's a myriad of essential reasons to travel even to worst parts of the world, which is why airlines fly to such places.
The winners here will be PTY and all of the major airports in Colombia. I think all six of those airlines currently fly to PTY, so don't be surprised to see increased frequencies.
Hot take: The six should issue a joint press release...
"...and nothing if value was lost..."
(They might also seriously consider banning Venezuelan officials from flying on them and tell the EU that they'll just pay fines for refusing carriage of Venezuelan diplomats rather than carrying them.)
Is it me?
Gary, whatever are you trying to say? Please explain.
One never likes to see raised tensions between countries, especially two countries who could easily be provoked into starting something nasty. One hopes that common sense will prevail and this spat will blow over.