In a rapidly unfolding situation that has left travelers scrambling and airlines reevaluating safety protocols, a sweeping wave of flight suspensions to and from Venezuela has gripped the international aviation sector. The catalyst? A stark warning issued by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in late November 2025, urging all major airlines to “exercise caution” in Venezuelan airspace due to a “potentially hazardous situation” marked by worsening security conditions and heightened military activity.
The FAA’s cautionary advisory, first delivered as a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) on November 21, 2025, was unambiguous: “Operators are advised to exercise caution when operating in the Maiquetía flight information region at all altitudes due to the worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around Venezuela.” The agency went further, emphasizing that “threats could pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes, including during overflight, the arrival and departure phases of flight and/or airports and aircraft on the ground.” According to Reuters, the FAA also requested that airlines provide at least 72 hours’ advance notice if they plan to fly through the region, underscoring the seriousness of the situation.
This warning came amid a notable buildup of U.S. military assets in the region, including the deployment of nine warships, F-35 aircraft, and the USS Gerald R. Ford—the world’s largest aircraft carrier, stretching more than 1,106 feet with 25 decks and a flight deck width of 256 feet, according to reporting by Fox Business and the US Navy. The deployment, while not directly tied to civil aviation, has added to the sense of unease and contributed to the FAA’s heightened alert.
What followed was a cascade of cancellations that has upended travel plans and left Venezuela’s international air connectivity in disarray. On Saturday, November 22, 2025, several major carriers—including Brazil’s Gol Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes, Colombia’s Avianca, and TAP Air Portugal—suspended all flights departing from Caracas, as confirmed by Flightradar24 and the official website of Simón Bolívar Maiquetía International Airport. TAP Air Portugal told Reuters, “This decision follows information issued by the United States aviation authorities, which indicates that safety conditions in Venezuelan airspace are not guaranteed.”
Spain’s Iberia, a key bridge between Europe and South America, also announced it would cancel its flights to Caracas starting Monday, November 24, 2025, and postpone operations until further notice. “The company will assess the situation to decide when to resume flights to that country,” an Iberia spokesperson told Reuters. The Spanish carrier’s Saturday rotation (IB191) operated as scheduled, but subsequent frequencies were pulled while the airline continued to monitor the situation.
The domino effect didn’t stop there. Other regional and international airlines, including Caribbean Airlines, Chile’s LATAM Airlines, and Lan Airlines, joined the wave of suspensions. LATAM Airlines, for its part, activated a contingency plan allowing passengers to reroute to Cúcuta, Colombia, a border city that now serves as a terrestrial gateway for those needing to reach Venezuela. According to Bloomberg, Colombia’s Civil Aviation Authority issued a statement highlighting “potential risks” in continuing to fly to the Maiquetía area “due to the deterioration of security conditions and increased military activity in the region.”
Despite the growing list of cancellations, several carriers have chosen to maintain their operations, albeit under heightened vigilance. Copa Airlines, based in Panama and known for its high-frequency hub model connecting Venezuela to the Americas, has continued its schedule. Spanish airlines Air Europa and Plus Ultra, as well as Turkish Airlines and the low-cost carrier Wingo, have also kept their flights active for the time being. However, the situation remains fluid, and these airlines are closely monitoring developments.
The impact of the FAA’s advisory has also rippled beyond flights directly serving Venezuelan cities. Major U.S. carriers—American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines—have been prohibited from operating direct flights to Venezuela since 2019. Nevertheless, some had continued to use Venezuelan airspace for routes between North and South America. In light of the recent warnings, these airlines have now altered their flight paths to avoid the Maiquetía Flight Information Region entirely. This move, while adding flight time and fuel consumption, ensures compliance with the FAA’s guidance and prioritizes passenger safety. Delta and United both reiterated this week that they stopped flying routes over Venezuela months ago, according to Reuters.
The FAA’s NOTAM cited not only the presence of advanced air defense systems and military assets in Venezuela but also increased interference with the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) since September 2025. This GPS signal jamming poses particular risks for civil aviation, as it can lead to navigational errors and potential miscalculations at all altitudes. The agency’s warning drew parallel concerns to conflict zones elsewhere in the world, highlighting the inadvertent risks that military buildups can pose to commercial air traffic.
For passengers, the consequences have been immediate and disruptive. Airlines have offered waivers, refunds, and rerouting options, but the patchwork of available flights has left many scrambling to find alternative ways into or out of Venezuela. Some travelers have turned to indirect flights via Bogota (Avianca), Port of Spain (Caribbean Airlines), and Panama City (Copa Airlines), though options remain limited and subject to change at short notice.
Venezuela’s own flag carrier, Conviasa, continues to operate both domestic and international routes, including politically motivated services to destinations such as Tehran, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Guangzhou. The airline’s fleet includes Airbus A340-200 and A340-600 aircraft, an ATR42, and Embraer E190 jets. Passenger feedback, as noted by AirlineRatings, has been mixed—some report well-maintained aircraft, while others cite lackluster service and disengaged cabin crew. Conviasa’s operations, often shaped by political rather than commercial considerations, remain a unique fixture in the region’s aviation landscape.
As the situation continues to evolve, the FAA has reiterated that it will “continually monitor the risk for airlines operating across the region.” For now, the skies over Venezuela have become a flashpoint for the intersection of geopolitics and global travel, leaving airlines and passengers alike navigating a landscape marked by uncertainty and heightened vigilance.
With major international links severed and only a handful of carriers maintaining service, the future of air travel to Venezuela hangs in the balance—its fate tied as much to diplomatic developments as to operational decisions in boardrooms and control towers around the world.
