Reuters
—
Three international airlines canceled flights from Venezuela on Saturday, a day after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration warned major airlines of “potentially hazardous conditions” when flying over Venezuela.
Brazil’s Gol, Colombia’s Avianca and TAP Airlines canceled flights from Caracas on Saturday, according to Flightradar24 and the official website of Simón Bolívar Maiquetia International Airport.
Colombia Airlines said in a statement that there was a “potential risk” to flying over the Maiquetia region “due to the deteriorating security situation and increased military activity in the region.”
TAP Air Portugal announced that it has canceled flights scheduled for Saturday and next Tuesday. “This decision follows information released by US aviation authorities indicating that the safety situation in Venezuelan airspace is not guaranteed,” the company told Reuters.
Spain’s Iberia Airlines also announced it would cancel flights to Caracas from Monday until further notice. A Spanish airline’s flight scheduled for Saturday departed from the Venezuelan capital to Madrid.
“The airline will assess the situation and decide when to resume flights to the country,” an Iberia spokesperson told Reuters.
Copa Airlines and Wingo maintained flights from Maiquetia on Saturday.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) notice cited “a deteriorating security situation and increased military activity in or around Venezuela,” and said the threat could pose a risk to aircraft at all altitudes.
The region has seen a major U.S. military buildup in recent months, including the U.S. Navy’s largest aircraft carrier, at least eight other warships and F-35 aircraft.
A Latam Airlines flight scheduled for Sunday to Bogotá was also canceled, according to Flightradar24.
