Venezuela has revoked the operating permits of six major international airlines after they declined to resume flights that had been suspended over security concerns. The Maduro government had issued a 48-hour ultimatum for carriers to restart their routes, and once the deadline passed this week, it carried out its threat to bar them from Venezuelan airspace.

The affected airlines, including Iberia, TAP, Avianca, LATAM Colombia, Turkish Airlines, and Gol, had halted service to Caracas following a United States safety warning about Venezuelan airspace. The decision further reduces Venezuela’s already limited international connections and raises new concerns for travelers about shrinking flight options, sudden cancellations, and broader travel risks.

TL;DR

  • Venezuela revoked operating permits for six major foreign airlines after they refused to resume flights halted over security concerns.
  • A U.S. FAA warning about hazardous Venezuelan airspace prompted airlines to suspend service for safety and insurance reasons.
  • Carriers banned: Iberia, TAP, Avianca, LATAM Colombia, Gol, and Turkish Airlines.
  • Connectivity to Venezuela is now severely limited, with only a few regional airlines like Copa, Wingo, Satena, Conviasa and BoA still flying.
  • Over 8,000 passengers and at least 40 flights were disrupted in the initial wave of cancellations.
  • Travelers face higher risks of sudden cancellations, complex rerouting, reduced options, and potential airspace instability.

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Airlines barred after safety ultimatum

Venezuela’s civil aviation authority announced it was withdrawing landing rights for six foreign carriers after they ignored an order to resume service by the deadline. The airlines barred from operating are:

  • Iberia (Spain) – flagship carrier of Spain
  • TAP Air Portugal (Portugal) – Portugal’s national airline
  • Avianca (Colombia) – Colombia’s largest airline
  • LATAM (Colombia) – the Colombian branch of LATAM Airlines Group
  • Gol Linhas Aéreas (Brazil) – a major Brazilian airline
  • Turkish Airlines (Turkey) – Turkey’s flagship carrier

These carriers had unilaterally halted flights to Venezuela after international regulators flagged risks in the country’s airspace. Caracas condemned the suspensions as a hostile act, accusing the airlines of joining “actions of state terrorism promoted by the United States” with their flight cancellations.

“If you do not resume flights in 48 hours, do not resume them any more. You keep your planes and we will keep our dignity,” senior official Diosdado Cabello warned earlier in the week as the ultimatum was set.

Following through on that threat, the government pulled the airlines’ operating permits once the deadline passed, saying it alone decides who is allowed to fly in Venezuelan airspace.

Officials in countries affected by the ban have criticized Venezuela’s response. Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel called the permit revocations “totally disproportionate,” noting that airlines only suspended flights for safety reasons and never intended to abandon the Venezuela route.

In Spain and Colombia – home to large Venezuelan diaspora communities – the loss of these flights is keenly felt. Venezuela’s decision further reduces connectivity with those nations, which host some of the biggest Venezuelan expat populations and rely on air links for family visits and commerce.

U.S. Safety warnings trigger flight suspensions

The clash over flights was prompted by heightened security tensions between Venezuela and the United States. Last week, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an alert warning pilots of a “potentially hazardous situation” in Venezuelan airspace due to a worsening security climate and increased military activity around the country.

In recent months the U.S. military has built up a significant presence in the Caribbean, including bomber overflights and naval deployments near Venezuela, amid escalating disputes with President Nicolás Maduro’s government.

Washington alleges that Maduro’s regime is involved in narcotics trafficking and has launched Operation Southern Spear, conducting surveillance flights and even strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels. Caracas fiercely rejects these claims and argues the U.S. actions are a pretext for aggression against Venezuela.

Following the FAA advisory, many foreign airlines scrambled to adjust their operations. The FAA notice did not outright ban flying over Venezuela, but it urged extreme caution and highlighted that threats could endanger aircraft even during takeoff, landing, or on the ground.

Such warnings carry serious implications: airlines risk voiding their insurance or breaching safety obligations if they ignore advisories from their home regulators about high-risk airspace.

In fact, Spain’s air navigation agency issued similar guidance to its carriers after the U.S. alert. For most airlines, continuing to fly in designated danger zones is not an option, as it could expose them to liability or violate the terms of aircraft leases.

By the weekend of November 24–26, a cascade of flight suspensions was underway. Multiple international carriers temporarily canceled flights to Caracas in line with their safety assessments.

Iberia, Avianca, LATAM, TAP, Gol, Caribbean Airlines and Turkish Airlines all halted services, soon joined by others like Air Europa (Spain) and Venezuela’s own Estelar and Laser airlines.

Even Turkish Airlines – which initially planned only a short pause – extended its suspension through the end of November amid the uncertainty. These widespread cancellations left hundreds of passengers in limbo and put pressure on Venezuela’s government, which issued the 48-hour ultimatum demanding flights resume despite the unresolved security concerns.

How connectivity has shrunk in Venezuela

Passengers wait in the main hall of Caracas’ Simón Bolívar International Airport amid the flight suspensions on 23 November 2025. The withdrawal of six major airlines’ permits has further thinned out the few international connections Venezuela had left.

On November 27 (the day after the ban was enacted), Caracas’s Maiquetía airport had only seven departures and seven arrivals scheduled, an extremely skeletal service for a capital city.

European carriers like Iberia and TAP had been running multiple flights per week prior to this crisis (Iberia alone operated five weekly flights from Madrid). With those routes scrubbed, travelers must now rely on a handful of remaining flights via regional hubs.

Thousands of passengers have already been disrupted by the sudden flight cancellations. According to Venezuela’s Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies, over 8,000 travelers and at least 40 flights were affected in the initial wave of suspensions.

Many people found themselves stranded in transit or stuck in Venezuela with return flights abruptly canceled. In Colombia alone, about 1,500 travelers had trips upended when Avianca and LATAM called off Caracas-bound flights at short notice.

Madrid’s Barajas Airport had to cancel all Venezuela flights on one day, leaving passengers scrambling to rebook on alternate routes. The domino effect has rippled across the region’s airports, underscoring how geopolitical tensions can swiftly disrupt travel plans.

Despite the bans, Venezuela is not completely cut off from international air travel. A few airlines are continuing service, albeit on limited schedules. Panama’s Copa Airlines and its low-cost affiliate Wingo are still flying regularly to Caracas, providing vital links to Panama City and Bogotá.

Some regional carriers also maintain routes: Bolivia’s state airline (BoA) and Colombia’s Satena have reportedly kept operating, as have Venezuelan carriers like Conviasa (which flies to destinations such as Mexico, Cuba, Brazil, and Nicaragua) and Avior Airlines (connecting to Colombia and Caribbean points).

However, with European and North American carriers long gone (the U.S. Department of Transportation already barred direct U.S.–Venezuela flights since 2019), the latest suspensions leave Venezuelans and visitors with even fewer travel options. “European travellers will now need to catch connecting flights via a third country to get there,” an industry expert noted, and there is no sign of tensions easing in the near term.

Meanwhile, some of the banned airlines are hoping for a resolution. Spanish carrier Iberia has indicated it wants to restart its Caracas flights as soon as it deems conditions safe. Colombia’s Avianca announced plans to tentatively resume its Caracas route by December 5, presumably if security stabilizes by then.

These plans remain uncertain, as they may require Venezuela to reinstate the airlines’ permits or for safety warnings to be lifted. Diplomats from affected countries are lobbying Caracas to reverse the bans; for example, Portugal has been working via its embassy in Venezuela to get TAP’s operating rights restored.

So far, Venezuela has shown no signs of backing down from its hard line. Air Europa and Plus Ultra – two other Spanish airlines that suspended flights – curiously did not have their permits revoked, though authorities gave no public explanation why those were spared. This inconsistency has left observers speculating whether behind-the-scenes negotiations or political considerations might be at play.

What it means for travelers

For anyone planning to fly to or via Venezuela, the recent turmoil in its aviation sector carries several implications:

  • Fewer Flight Options: With six major airlines banned, international connectivity to Venezuela has plummeted. Travelers from Europe or South America now have to rely on a patchwork of remaining carriers and indirect routes (for instance, flying through Panama City or other regional hubs). This can mean longer travel times and limited seat availability as demand squeezes into fewer flights.

  • Risk of Sudden Cancellations: The situation remains volatile. Airlines and governments may cancel flights at short notice if security worsens or diplomatic disputes escalate. Travelers should be prepared for last-minute changes – what happened in late November, when dozens of flights were scrubbed within hours, could happen again. It’s wise to monitor news and official advisories closely right up to your departure date.

  • Insurance and Ticket Refunds: Travel insurance policies might not cover disruptions caused by government actions or airspace closures, especially if your home country advises against travel. (Notably, the UK government warns that traveling against official advice can invalidate your insurance.) Check with your insurer whether trip cancellation or interruption due to political/security events is included. Likewise, if your flight is canceled due to these issues, airlines should offer refunds or rebooking, but the process may be complicated if the airline has no rights to operate. Always stay in contact with your airline or travel agent to understand your options.

  • Potential Airspace Closures: Be aware that Venezuela has threatened to declare a “state of external commotion” in case of conflict, which could mean sudden closure of airspace and borders. If tensions with the U.S. continue to rise, there is a real possibility of further flight suspensions or even a complete airspace shutdown. This would strand any travelers in transit and halt evacuation flights. Keep a contingency plan – for example, know the nearest alternate country you could travel to if flights to Venezuela are grounded.

  • Safety and Security Concerns: Even aside from flight availability, the security situation in Venezuela’s skies is abnormal. Military maneuvers and the risk of miscalculation are what prompted the FAA warning. Most commercial airlines will avoid Venezuelan airspace for now. If you must travel to Venezuela, consider routes that do not overfly active conflict areas. Also note that many countries (including the U.S. and UK) have elevated travel advisories for Venezuela due to crime and instability on the ground, which is an important factor to heed beyond the aviation issues.

Venezuela’s flight network is currently in a precarious state, subject to political winds and security flashpoints. If you are planning a trip to Venezuela or even a flight connecting there, stay flexible and informed.

Book with airlines that are still operating (such as Copa or Wingo) but have backup plans in case schedules change. Ensure you have adequate travel insurance and the necessary visas for any unexpected layovers. Given the ongoing tensions, ask yourself “Is it essential to fly through Venezuela right now?”

If an alternate routing is available, it may be prudent to avoid the country’s airspace until stability returns. For those who do need to travel, vigilance is key: double-check flight status regularly, register with your embassy for updates, and be prepared for detours. In this volatile climate, the ability to adapt travel plans on short notice will be crucial for anyone flying in or around Venezuela.

FAQ

Q1. Why did Venezuela revoke these airlines’ operating permits?
Because the carriers refused to resume flights that had been suspended over safety warnings. Venezuela interpreted this refusal as defiance of its 48-hour ultimatum.

Q2. Which airlines have been banned?
Iberia, TAP Air Portugal, Avianca, LATAM Colombia, Gol Linhas Aéreas, and Turkish Airlines.

Q3. Why did airlines suspend flights in the first place?
A United States FAA advisory warned of hazardous Venezuelan airspace due to increased military activity and regional tension.

Q4. Are airlines legally required to follow FAA or home-country safety advisories?
Generally yes. Ignoring such advisories can invalidate insurance, breach regulatory obligations, or violate aircraft lease agreements.

Q5. How does this affect travelers?
Expect fewer routes, more cancellations, limited rebooking options, and a higher risk of sudden schedule changes.

Q6. Is Venezuela now isolated from the world?
Not entirely. Copa, Wingo, Satena, BoA, Conviasa, and a few others continue operating on limited schedules.

Q7. Could airspace be closed entirely?
Yes. Venezuela has threatened broader measures amid tensions with the United States, raising the possibility of sudden airspace closures.

Q8. Will banned airlines return soon?
It is unclear. Some airlines, such as Iberia and Avianca, want to resume flights, but they need both government approval and improved safety conditions.

Q9. Can travelers get refunds for cancelled flights?
Yes. Airlines must offer refunds or rebooking, but the process may be complicated because they no longer have operating rights in Venezuela.

Q10. Is it safe to travel to Venezuela right now?
Travel advisories from the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union remain elevated due to crime, instability, and potential military activity in the airspace. Travelers should exercise caution.