Is flying safe? Doubt looms over Venezuela's airspace

Numerous airlines have halted operations to and from Maiquetia Simon Bolivar International Airport in Venezuela following US warnings and the deployment of a substantial naval presence in the Caribbean. Carriers connecting Caracasincluding Iberia, TAP, Avianca, GOL, LATAM, Air Europa, Turkish Airlines, and Plus Ultrahave suspended flights, while others are avoiding Venezuelan airspace entirely. US President Donald Trump emphasized on Saturday that the region should be regarded as "closed."

Panamas Copa Airlines and its budget branch, Wingo, announced a temporary two-day suspension after pilots reported navigational signal disruptions near Venezuelan territory. FlightRadar24 data indicated minimal activity over Venezuela on Thursday, with no international flights arriving or departing.

Status of Venezuelan Airspace

At the end of November, US aviation authorities urged heightened caution due to "worsening security conditions and increased military activity." On Saturday, Trump tweeted: "To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY." No formal closure has been enacted, despite Venezuelas airspace covering roughly 1.2 million square kilometers (463,000 square miles), including maritime zones near the US naval presence.

In response to the precautionary flight suspensions, Venezuelas aviation regulator penalized several airlines for allegedly "participating in acts of state terrorism orchestrated by the United States."

Security analyst Oscar Palma, a professor at Colombia's Rosario University, commented that Venezuelan airspace is effectively "closed in practice." He noted that official airspace closures usually require the ability and readiness to intercept or shoot down unauthorized aircraft. "Would the US enforce this by force? Its uncertain, but with the current administration, anything is possible," he added.

US Military Actions

Since September, the US military has reportedly destroyed more than twenty vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, suspected of transporting drugs. At least 83 fatalities have occurred, many involving fishermen according to local reports.

Current Flights

As of Thursday, only four departures and three arrivals were scheduled at Maiquetia, connecting to Curacao, Havana, and Bogota, all operated by Venezuelan carriers. Initially, US flights carrying deported migrants to Venezuela were blocked but were later allowed after Washington requested their continuation, highlighting migration as a key policy concern.

Risks for Airlines

Although there is no official airspace closure, industry sources say the situation presents "significant risk" for carriers, aircraft lessors, insurers, and pilot unions. Reports also indicate potential electromagnetic interference affecting GPS systems during flight, further complicating aviation safety in the region.

Author: Maya Henderson