Three major international airlines suspended their operations out of Venezuela on Saturday, one day after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a stark warning about escalating security risks in Venezuelan airspace. Brazil’s Gol, Colombia’s Avianca and TAP Air Portugal all cancelled their scheduled departures from Caracas, according to data from Flightradar24 and updates posted by the Simón BolÃvar MaiquetÃa International Airport. The cancellations immediately heightened concerns about the safety of flying in and out of the country as regional tensions rise.
Colombia’s civil aviation authority, Aeronáutica Civil, also released a statement acknowledging “potential risks” for flights in the MaiquetÃa region, citing a deterioration in security conditions combined with a noticeable increase in military activity. TAP Air Portugal confirmed that not only Saturday’s flights, but also its upcoming Tuesday services, had been suspended. The airline said its decision was directly influenced by information from U.S. aviation authorities warning that Venezuelan airspace could no longer be considered reliably safe.
Spain’s Iberia joined the list of carriers pulling back, announcing that it would suspend all flights to Caracas from Monday onward until the situation stabilises. Although Iberia’s Saturday flight to Madrid was able to operate, the airline said it would continuously monitor developments before deciding when to resume regular service. In contrast, Copa Airlines and Wingo continued flying out of MaiquetÃa on Saturday, making them among the few international operators still maintaining routes.
The FAA advisory referenced the “worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around Venezuela,” warning that aircraft could face risks at any altitude. The alert comes amid a significant U.S. military buildup in the surrounding region over recent months, including the deployment of the U.S. Navy’s largest aircraft carrier, multiple warships, and F-35 fighter jets. Adding to the mounting disruptions, LATAM Airlines also cancelled its Sunday Bogotá-bound flight, according to Flightradar24.
The wave of suspensions underscores the growing volatility in Venezuelan airspace and suggests further disruptions may loom as regional security conditions continue to shift.
