Venezuela Makes High Stakes Threat To Force International Airlines To Restore Flights After FAA Safety Alert

Venezuela has reportedly made a high-stakes threat to international airlines in a desperate bid to get them to restore flights to the beleaguered South American country.

Following an alarming safety alert from the U.S. Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), a slew of international carriers have temporarily pulled flights to the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, over fears that commercial passenger jets could be accidentally shot down by fighter jets or ground-to-air missile systems.

At the weekend, Spanish flag carrier Iberia said it was temporarily suspending flights between Madrid and Venezuela. The airline was following in the footsteps of TAP Air Portugal, Brazilian carrier GOL, and Avianca, which had already grounded flights.

Other airlines that have announced the suspension of flights to Venezuela include Turkish Airlines, Air Europa, and PlusUltra.

But according to the International Air Transportation Association (IATA), an industry trade body that represents the majority of airlines around the world, Venezuelan officials have now issued airlines an ultimatum.

Restore flights to Venezuela within 48 hours or risk having your flying rights canceled.

IATA slammed the threat, saying it could further reduce connectivity to a country that is already badly isolated from the rest of the world.

It remains to be seen whether the threat will have any effect. Presumably, Venezuela is hopeful that at least one airline will buckle to the pressure, and this will lead to a snowball effect because rival carriers will be scared of losing access to the market to their competitors.

Airlines are still assessing the FAA safety alert, which warned of heightened military activity in the region, urging U.S. airlines not to use Venezuelan airspace until further notice.

U.S. carriers have been banned from flying to or from Venezuela since May 2019, following an assessment by the Department of Homeland Security, which concluded that the domestic security situation in the country posed a threat to airlines, their crew, and passengers.

The latest alert didn’t go as far as to outright ban U.S. airlines from utilizing Venezuela airspace – known as the Maiquetia Flight Information Region, which spans 1,204,815 square kilometres and covers all of Venezuela and its territorial waters.

The Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) warned of “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.”

An accompanying background information leaflet explained that since early September, “Venezuela has conducted multiple military exercises and directed the mass mobilization of thousands of military and reserve forces.”

While the FAA noted that the Venezuelan military has not “expressed an intent to target civil aviation,” the FAA warns Venezuela possesses advanced fighter jets and ground air defense systems that could down a civilian airliner.

Matt’s take – A dangerous precedent?

Generally speaking, it should be up to the country facing the security situation to reassure and convince airlines that it is safe to resume flights, rather than making threats to withdraw access.

Compare the actions of Venezuela with Israel, which also faced isolation when international airlines grounded flights in response to threats from Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran.

There was never any question that international carriers would not be allowed to return to Israel when the security situation improved, and some carriers are being welcomed back with open arms despite very long route suspensions.