Venezuela threatens Iberia, Air Europa and Plus Ultra with loss of traffic rights if flights are not resumed

Venezuela’s National Civil Aviation Institute (INAC) has stepped up pressure on international airlines that suspended flights to the country due to security concerns highlighted by the United States. The Venezuelan authority has warned that airlines could lose their traffic rights—positions allowing takeoffs and landings at Venezuelan airports—if they do not resume operations.

INAC has given Spanish carriers Iberia, Air Europa, and Plus Ultra a 48-hour deadline to reinstate cancelled flights. Other airlines that have stopped overflying Venezuela include Chile’s Latam, Brazil’s Gol, Portugal’s TAP, and Turkey’s Turkish Airlines. These carriers acted after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a safety warning on Friday, closely monitoring the evolving situation. Spain’s air traffic provider, Enaire, also issued a notice to airlines highlighting the risks.

The increased U.S. military presence in the Caribbean, justified by the Trump administration as a measure against drug trafficking and terrorist organisations, affects operations throughout the Maiquetía Flight Information Region (FIR), covering Venezuelan airspace and the southern Caribbean Sea.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), representing most global airlines, has called for dialogue between authorities assessing Venezuelan airspace safety. IATA urges clearer, coordinated guidance for airlines operating in the Maiquetía FIR.

The association emphasised that flight suspensions follow FAA recommendations from November 21 and were reinforced by Spanish authorities on Monday. It also stressed that the cancellations are temporary measures, “adopted after rigorous risk analysis to ensure passenger, crew, and aircraft safety, in line with international standards under Annexes 6 and 17 of the Chicago Convention.”

IATA warned that enforcing INAC’s threat to withdraw traffic rights would ultimately harm Venezuela by further reducing the country’s already limited air connectivity. The organisation confirmed that its members remain “committed to resuming operations to and from Venezuela as soon as conditions allow.”

Iberia grounded its Madrid–Caracas flights on Saturday, operating daily except Fridays and Sundays. Air Europa followed suit yesterday, cancelling its scheduled Tuesday departures from Madrid at 16:40 and from Caracas at 23:10. The airline has not indicated when services might resume. Plus Ultra has also cancelled its flights to Caracas and is evaluating plans for the coming days.