Of the 181 international flights a week in Venezuela before the measure, only 83 remain.
The suspension of Venezuela’s commercial flights with Panama, the Dominican Republic and Peru, in force since July 31, is a “political” measure – with which the oil country reduced its international connectivity 54 percent, according to the Venezuelan Air Lines Association (ALAV).
Of the 181 international flights a week before the measure, 83 remain, or 98 fewer, equivalent to about 15,000 seats per week that are no longer available, Marisela de Loaiza, president of the association, Marisela de Loaiza, told EFE.
“We lost more than half of international connectivity,” said the union leader, who says she does not understand the reason for this measure that – she warned – has an impact not only on tourism, but also on the economy.
On July 29, the Executive announced the temporary suspension, in rejection of the interfering of right-wing governments, in the presidential elections of the 28th, in which Nicolas Maduro obtained a controversial re-election pointed out as fraudulent by the majority opposition and questioned by the international community, which demands the publication of the disaggregated results.
The Ministry of Transport reserves legal action, in firm support for the political decisions of the State, in order to enforce, preserve and defend the inalienable right of the people’s self-determination, the institution said at the time in a statement issued after the expulsion of the diplomatic corps from the three countries, as well as Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica and Uruguay, for its “exercise” actions and statements – on the elections.
Although media recently reported an alleged extension of the measure until September 30, the Transport portfolio clarified to EFE that the suspension remains in force because it never had an expiry time.
The impactThe connection with these three countries was very important for Venezuela due to its still low supply of direct international flights, despite the fact that their connectivity with the world improved after the coronavirus pandemic, which meant another stool for a sector that already suffered the consequences of the economic crisis that began in 2014.
A total of 352 international weekly frequencies had Venezuela in 2013, the “moment of greatest boom due to access to foreign exchange” – a figure that was reduced in six years to only 100 in 2019, due to the gradual withdrawal of airlines – due to the impossibility of repatriating the funds to their countries of origin, as well as the fall of the market, according to ALAV.
As a result, Panama, for example, became the bridge with several U.S. cities, said De Loaiza, who also pointed out that Peru connects with South American countries, and the options that remain after the suspension – he said – are not enough to meet demand.
Many people had to cancel travel plans or look for alternatives, he said.
This is the case of Daniela, a twenty-year-old who traveled to the United States in June and had as a date of return to Caracas on August 10, on a flight that would pass through Panama but was cancelled, as notified by the airline, which, according to the young woman, offers the option of flying to another country that still has connections with Venezuela, including Colombia.
As he extends his stay in the U.S. country, he assesses how to return to his country, whose situation also worries him, he explained.
This article has been translated after first appearing in La Estrella