Several international airlines have suspended flights to and from Venezuela following a U.S. aviation warning citing heightened military activity near the country’s main airport. The move adds new tension to an already fragile regional climate as Washington intensifies its security operations in the Caribbean.
At least six carriers, including Avianca, Gol, TAP Air Portugal, Iberia, and LATAM Airlines, announced the cancellation of their routes after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advised against flying through Venezuelan airspace. The FAA alert, issued on Friday (21), described a “potentially dangerous situation” surrounding the airspace controlled by Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, which serves Caracas.
Colombia’s Avianca, Brazil’s Gol, and Portugal’s TAP halted operations on Saturday (22). Spain’s Iberia, which normally operates five weekly flights from Maiquetía, also suspended its services starting Monday (24), stating that it would continue to monitor the situation. LATAM Airlines canceled flights scheduled for November 23 and 24 between Bogotá and Caracas, offering alternatives to affected passengers.
U.S. alert cites risk to aircraft safety
According to the FAA, escalating security tensions and “increased military activity around Venezuela” pose potential risks to aircraft at all altitudes, including during arrivals, departures, and overflights. The advisory came as the United States expanded its military presence in Caribbean waters, deploying the USS Gerald Ford — the world’s largest aircraft carrier — along with destroyers, submarines, and fighter jets.
Officially, Washington claims the operation targets drug trafficking. However, the scale of the deployment and its proximity to Venezuelan territory have fueled speculation that it could serve as leverage against President Nicolás Maduro’s government. Caracas has condemned the maneuvers as acts of provocation and “preparation for aggression.”
In response, Venezuela has strengthened its air defenses and publicly displayed its Igla-S portable missile systems, capable of downing low-flying aircraft. Meanwhile, since September, U.S. forces have intercepted vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific accused of transporting drugs, resulting in multiple deaths.
U.S. officials describe those groups as “narcoterrorists,” though critics argue that the strikes resemble extrajudicial executions since most crews are neither detained nor prosecuted.
While President Donald Trump has not clarified his ultimate strategy toward Venezuela, the sustained buildup of U.S. forces near the region has revived concerns about a potential attempt to pressure Maduro’s government or reshape power in the country. For now, commercial aviation remains on hold — another sign of how security and politics have become increasingly intertwined across the hemisphere.