Summary
Venezuela bars flights from three Latin countries.
US and Latin American countries denounce rigged election results.
Air closures impact Latin American airlines & future of Venezuelan air travel.
On 28 July, Venezuela held its elections to choose the next president. The election results are widely considered to be rigged, with countries across Latin America, including Peru, Dominican Republic, and Panama, stating they would not recognize the outcome. Venezuela retaliated by barring flights from those countries, deepening the isolation of Venezuela. Other countries like Argentina and the US are already banned from Venezuelan air space.
Venezuela bars flights from three Latin countries
According to ch-aviation, the Venezuelan government has barred all flights to and from Peru from July 31 to August 31, 2024. This makes Peru the third country to have Venezuela severe its air connectivity (the other two being Panama and the Dominican Republic). The only airline connecting Peru and Venezuela was LATAM Airlines Peru – it fly twice daily from Lima to Caracas.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying
“Given this situation, beyond our control, and in order to provide the greatest possible protection to our passengers, changes and/or refunds will be offered without any additional cost” –
LATAM
The US Department of State said that while Nicolás Maduro was announced the presidential election winner, that “came with no supporting evidence.” This opinion has been shared across Latin America, with a number of countries denouncing the election and stating they would not recognize the official outcome.
The 1980s sale of F-16s to Venezuela is one of the most significant South American arms sales that backfired.
Impacts on Venezuela’s air connectivity
The air closures in Panama and the Dominican Republic have impacted the operations of many Latin American airlines, including Avior Airlines, Laser Airlines, Copa Airlines, SKYhigh Dominicana, Veneozlana, Rutaca Airlines, and Turpial Airlines. Business Traveler stated, “This decision has reverberated throughout the Latin American aviation industry, sparking concerns about the future of Venezuelan air travel and the possibility of further isolation.”
Copa Airlines is a Panamanian carrier and has been significantly affected. It operated 42 weekly flights between Panama and the Venezuelan cities of Caracas, Maracaibo, Barcelona, Valencia, and Barquisimeto amounting to 6,700 weekly seats each way. It has spent the last couple of years post-pandemic carefully rebuilding its network with Venezuela, which plays a large role in keeping Venezuela connected to the outside world. According to reporting by Business Traveler, Venezuela is one of Copa’s most profitable countries.
Photo: Copa Airlines
In response, the airline has reorganized its timetable and added four new daily flights to Cucuta, Colombia (Cucuta is located near the Venezuelan border). Venezuela’s air connectivity to the rest of the world is already limited, and this will make it considerably more difficult for people seeking to fly in or out of the country.
Other routes in and out of Venezuela still exist, but these often do not offer the same level of convenience or frequency as the routes that are now suspended. Alternatives include flights through Mexico City, Cancun, Caraco, and Port of Spain (so long as Venezuela doesn’t shut these down as well). Caracas is also still connected to some European destinations like Madrid, Tenerife, Lisbon, and Istanbul.
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Publish date : 2024-08-04 01:31:00
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