A Copa Airlines plane lands at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, La Guaira state, Venezuela. Photo: Carlos Becerra/Bloomberg/File photo.
Caracas (OrinocoTribune.com)—Panama’s Copa Airlines and Colombia’s Wingo have announced a temporary suspension of their flights to Caracas for 48 hours, beginning December 4. Both cited “intermittent global positioning signal disruptions” during approaches to Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía.
This Thursday, December 4, the airlines joined six other international carriers that had their flight permits revoked last week by Venezuela’s National Institute of Civil Aeronautics (INAC) after suspending operations.
Copa Airlines noted that “due to intermittent navigation signal issues reported today by our pilots, which did not compromise safety, flights to and from Caracas are suspended as a precaution on December 4 and 5, 2025.” It said it is evaluating the situation and would share updates within 24 hours. The airline offered affected travelers free date changes or full refunds.
Wingo also cited “intermittent navigation signals” for its “preventive” suspension through December 5. Both airlines stated their priority is passenger safety and well-being.
These suspensions come despite the airlines having operated normally amid escalated aggression by the Donald Trump administration. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) took it upon themselves to “suggest” to airlines to exercise extreme caution in Venezuelan airspace, and declared a “total closure” on social media: a measure it lacks the authority to enforce and which was not an official decision.
Foreign Minister Yván Gil reiterated on Wednesday that Venezuelan airspace remains under national control and that airports are operating normally, despite efforts by Trump and mainstream media to show otherwise.
On November 27, INAC revoked the concessions of six airlines—Iberia, TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines, Latam, Avianca, and Gol—for not resuming operations and for “joining the actions of state terrorism promoted by the US government.”
INAC reaction
INAC reacted to the latest suspensions, stating on social media that it expects services to resume normally within the announced timeframe. The post noted the suspension was done “in prior coordination with this aeronautical authority” and that monitoring of ongoing operations would continue in order to ensure airspace safety.
Air-operation data
PSUV Secretary General and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello reported on Wednesday that 1,474 air travel operations have been carried out since the threat made by the US empire to close Venezuelan airspace. He said 101,813 people have been travelling by air, with 65,207 on domestic flights and 36,606 on international flights.
“A plane arrived today from the United States. How did it fly?” Cabello asked during his Con el Mazo Dando television program. “The US government asked INAC for permission to fly over our airspace, as required, and they were given permission. So why did they bring up the other thing? Who are they trying to scare?”
He emphasized that the Venezuelan people made the choice long ago to be free and sovereign. “They think they can intimidate this people. They mistakenly believe the problem is Nicolás, Diosdado, or others. No. It is this people who firmly decided to be free,” he said, referring to the millions of supporters of President Nicolás Maduro and the Bolivarian Revolution.
International noise
United Nations experts expressed deep concern on Thursday over “growing pressure from the United States on Venezuela,” following Trump’s statement that the country’s airspace “should be considered closed.”
In a press release shared by Foreign Minister Gil, independent expert George Katrougalos and special rapporteur Ben Saul warned against Washington’s actions. They emphasized that “international law is clear: States have complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above their territory.”
“Any measure that seeks to regulate, restrict or ‘close’ the airspace of another state constitutes a flagrant violation of the Chicago Convention,” they added, referencing the Convention on International Civil Aviation. They also noted that Article 2 of the UN Charter prohibits the threat or use of force against a state’s territorial integrity.
The experts noted that the six airlines in question suspended flights after the FAA warned of a “potentially dangerous” situation. “The latest statement represents a dangerous escalation,” they warned, “following the significant increase in US troops in the Caribbean, and other recent announcements by the US president about possible military operations in Venezuelan territory.”
Electronic warfare
Analysts claim the GPS disruptions reported since November are part of electronic warfare led by the US empire, typical before the start of a US military operation. They say this campaign, accompanied weeks ago by the White House’s decisions and Trump’s actions, aims to affect the spirit of Venezuelans during the end-of-year travel season.
Amid US Flight Disruption Attempts, Repatriation Flights Bring 317 Migrants to Venezuela Last Week
These analysts claim the US imperial maneuver has only increased rejection of the US regime and its ruler Trump in Venezuela and has in fact strengthened support for President Maduro’s solid and consistent stand in defense of national sovereignty. They assert this is a desperate measure by the US entity, unable to achieve its regime-change goals without launching a military strike against Caracas.
However, other experts claim that electronic warfare operations might hint towards an imminent US military operation on Venezuelan soil, and that the impact on commercial flight might lead to a disaster no one wants.
Special for Orinoco Tribune by staff
OT/JRE/AU
