Venezuela revokes flight permits for six airlines after US safety warning

After six big foreign carriers stopped flights to the country due to a recommendation from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Venezuela has taken steps to revoke their operating permits.

The move further restricts the already limited international flight connections to Venezuela and takes heed of threats by authorities in the Venezuelan capital earlier this week.

The civil aviation authority revoked rights from Iberia, TAP, Avianca, Latam Colombia, Turkish Airlines, and Gol.

All of them had temporarily halted service following an FAA warning to US carriers of what it called a "potentially hazardous situation" in Venezuelan airspace or over it.

The US regulator attributed its warning to a deteriorating security situation and heightened military activities in and around Venezuela.

Caracas disputed the FAA's assessment, claiming that the US agency lacks control over Venezuelan airspace. Officials accused airlines of supporting Washington's position by cancelling flights "unilaterally."

In a statement, officials stated the carriers had "joined actions of state terrorism promoted by the United States" and that the bans were unjustified.

US warning triggers airline suspensions

Last week, the FAA advisory increased ambiguity for international carriers flying in the area.

The deployment came as the US military has been sending ships to the Caribbean for months, while relations with President Nicolás Maduro's government have worsened.

Washington has framed its buildup as a response to Maduro's alleged complicity in the supply of illegal drugs that have killed Americans.

Maduro has denied the accusations and claims that US President Donald Trump wants to remove him from power.

Days after a new alert from the Federal Aviation Administration, several airlines decided to cancel or suspend flights to Venezuela despite Caracas's request to keep the operations.

This included six of the carriers whose rights have been revoked.

Their decisions contributed to a further contraction in international air traffic to the country, which has struggled for years with reduced connectivity.

48-hour ultimatum precedes revocations

Earlier this week, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that Venezuelan authorities had issued an ultimatum giving international airlines 48 hours to resume flights or risk losing their operating permits.

Despite the warning, several carriers declined to return to Venezuelan skies, citing security and operational concerns.

Iberia stated that it wanted to resume flights as soon as "full safety conditions were met," highlighting the state of uncertainty surrounding aviation travel to the country.

Other carriers, including Air Europa and Plus Ultra, ceased operations but did not have their permits revoked.

The unequal enforcement demonstrates how carriers viewed the risks differently.

While some chose to cancel flights outright, others continued operations.

Copa and Wingo continue to serve Venezuela, and domestic airlines continue to fly to neighbouring Colombia, Panama, and Curaçao.

Connectivity shrinks as tensions mount

The loss of permits emphasises the larger geopolitical battle between Caracas and Washington, as well as the implications for commercial aviation.

Venezuela's charge that airlines linked with the United States engage in "state terrorism" reflects growing rhetoric in response to the FAA warning and the presence of US military forces in the region.

Venezuela's loss of six major foreign operators exacerbates its isolation at a time when its aviation linkages are already severely curtailed.

For airlines, the episode emphasises the difficulties of navigating complicated political and security issues while balancing regulatory recommendations and passenger safety.

With diplomatic issues unresolved and security worries lingering, the prospects for restoring aviation service to Venezuela remain doubtful.

The disagreement between US assessments of regional military activities and Venezuela’s denial of external control has placed carriers in the heart of a dispute far beyond the limits of commercial operations.