Venezuelan authorities are escalating tensions with international airlines, demanding they resume flights within 48 hours or face the revocation of operating licenses[[2]]. This ultimatum follows a wave of flight cancellations by major carriers-including Iberia,Avianca and Turkish Airlines- prompted by a U.S. advisory warning of heightened military activity in the region[[2]]. The dispute highlights the increasing geopolitical complexities impacting air travel to and from Venezuela, with potential ramifications for connectivity and regional stability.
Venezuelan authorities are demanding that airlines resume flights to and from the country within 24 hours, or risk losing their operating licenses. The ultimatum comes after several carriers canceled flights following a U.S. warning about potential safety risks in the region.
The move underscores growing tensions surrounding air travel to Venezuela amid heightened geopolitical concerns. A source within the Venezuelan Ministry of Transportation told EFE that “the Venezuelan state has taken a position with the airlines and will take the corresponding actions. They have less than 24 hours left.”
The National Institute of Civil Aeronautics (INAC) gave airlines 48 hours to reinstate their operations, a deadline communicated to legal representatives of the companies during a meeting Monday and taking effect at noon local time.
The Venezuelan government and airline representatives met Monday to discuss ways to ensure continued service after multiple companies suspended flights in response to the U.S. advisory to “exercise extreme caution” when flying over Venezuelan airspace.
Venezuela Issues Ultimatum to Airlines
The International Air Transport Association (IATA), representing 300 airlines worldwide, reported Monday that Venezuelan authorities had given airlines 48 hours to resume flights or face the loss of air traffic rights in the South American nation.
IATA clarified Tuesday that the airlines potentially losing traffic rights in Venezuela are those that have already suspended their flights, following a warning from INAC.
Seis aerolíneas cancelan vuelos a Venezuela tras advertencias de autoridad aérea de Estados Unidos
La española Iberia, la portuguesa TAP, la colombiana Avianca, la trinitense Caribbean, la brasileña GOL y la chilena Latam cancelaron sus operaciones en Venezuela, según afirmó la… pic.twitter.com/sVAzVmoqzW
— DW Español (@dw_espanol) November 23, 2025
Several airlines have canceled flights since Saturday, including Air Europa, Plus Ultra, and Iberia of Spain, as well as TAP of Portugal, Avianca of Colombia, Gol of Brazil, Latam of South America, and Turkish Airlines.
Copa, Wingo, Boliviana de Aviación, and Satena are continuing their operations.
Venezuelan airlines Laser and Estelar announced Tuesday the suspension of their flights to Madrid until December 1, following warnings from the Spanish Air Safety Agency (AESA).
Spanish air navigation services provider Enaire published a notice Monday, at the request of AESA, recommending that Spanish civilian air operators refrain from flying in the Maiquetía Flight Information Region (FIR), which encompasses all of Venezuelan territory and extends into the Caribbean Sea.
These measures followed a Friday advisory from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) urging commercial flights to “exercise extreme caution” when flying over Venezuela and the southern Caribbean, amid a U.S. military deployment in the region intended to pressure the government of Nicolás Maduro.
