Airlines Cancel Venezuela Flights After US Warns of Rising Security Risks

Three major international carriers suspended operations from Venezuela on Saturday after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a warning about heightened security threats and military activity in the region. The advisory, which cited a “potentially hazardous situation,” prompted airlines from Brazil, Colombia and Portugal to immediately cancel scheduled departures from Caracas.

According to updates from Flightradar24 and the Simón Bolívar Maiquetía International Airport website, Gol (Brazil), Avianca (Colombia) and TAP Air Portugal grounded all flights leaving Venezuela on Saturday.

Colombia’s civil aviation authority, Aeronáutica Civil, said there were “potential risks” in the Maiquetía airspace, pointing to deteriorating security conditions and an uptick in military operations near the airport.

TAP Air Portugal confirmed cancellations for Saturday and the upcoming Tuesday, stating the decision followed US assessments indicating that safety in Venezuelan airspace “is not guaranteed.” Spain’s Iberia also suspended flights to Caracas from Monday until further notice, though its Saturday flight to Madrid took off as scheduled.

“The situation will be monitored closely before restoring services,” an Iberia spokesperson told Reuters.

Despite the warnings, Copa Airlines and Wingo continued their scheduled operations from Caracas on Saturday.

The FAA advisory referenced a “worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around Venezuela,” warning that threats could affect aircraft at all altitudes. The alert comes amid a significant US military buildup in the region, including the deployment of an aircraft carrier, multiple warships and F-35 fighter jets.

LATAM Airlines also cancelled its Sunday flight to Bogotá, according to Flightradar24.

The disruption marks another blow to Venezuela’s strained connectivity, raising concerns about further international flight cuts if security conditions continue to deteriorate.