Simulated view of the Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, La Guaira state. Photo: MSFS/File photo.
Caracas (OrinocoTribune.com)—Venezuela’s National Institute of Civil Aeronautics (INAC) has revoked the permits of six airlines that have failed to resume their operations in the country. The government said the carriers joined “the actions of state terrorism promoted by the US government,” under the pretext of a NOTAM issued by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)—with no jurisdiction over the Flight Information Region of the Simón Bolívar International Airport—claiming that “caution” was advised regarding supposed “risk” in the Venezuelan region and surrounding airspace.
The Venezuelan government had initially given these airlines a 48-hour notice to resume operations after they suspended their flights on their excuse. The deadline expired at noon this Wednesday, November 26, and the airlines did not resume their flights, affecting the transportation rights of hundreds of users.
The decision to terminate their operations was published in Venezuela’s Official Gazette No. 43264, and mentioned the following airlines:
• Iberia Airlines of Spain SA
• Portuguese Air Transport SA (TAP Portugal)
• Aerovías del Continente Americano SA (AVIANCA), from Colombia
• Aerovías de Integración Regional SA (LATAM), from Colombia
• Turkish Airlines, from Turkey
• GOL Linhas Aereas SA, from Brazil
Breaking news: Venezuela grounds major airlines.
The government has revoked flight authorizations for Iberia, TAP, Avianca, Latam, Turkish Airlines, and Gol after they suspended services.
Reported by @MadeleinGarcia.#Aviation #TravelNews #notam https://t.co/opWDPYIthW— Orinoco Tribune (@OrinocoTribune) November 27, 2025
Sovereign decision
The secretary general of the PSUV, Diosdado Cabello, reaffirmed on his weekly Con el Mazo Dando program on Wednesday that “Venezuela does not threaten anyone! Venezuela is a sovereign country that decides who enters or leaves its territory.”
“The national government, in a sovereign decision, told the companies that if they did not resume flights within 48 hours, they should never resume them: ‘Keep your planes and we’ll keep our dignity,'” he added, referring specifically to Spain’s Iberia.
Cabello noted that the US empire issued a NOTAM regarding airspace that involves other countries, not just Venezuela. “Those airlines continue flying to those other countries without any problem, but suddenly they decided not to fly to Venezuela,” he said. He explained this as proof of the destabilizing nature of the US maneuver, which has already affected hundreds of users and will now impact thousands with plans to travel during the end-of-year season.
Officials question “danger” claims
Cabello called the US regime’s claims about Venezuela’s alleged dangers immoral and hypocritical, noting that the US is simultaneously repatriating Venezuelans on flights from within the US entity.
“By the way, how can it be so dangerous when a US plane brought 175 Venezuelan migrants here today?” he said. “That’s the immorality of those who govern the US.” He referred to a repatriation flight from the US-based airline Eastern that landed at the Simón Bolívar International Airport on Wednesday, bringing back deported Venezuelans from the US.
The top Venezuelan official also mentioned that Germany recently issued a travel advisory warning citizens to avoid travel to Venezuela, under claims of so-called “imminent danger.” Cabello questioned why, if there is so much danger, the German ambassador in Caracas recently posted photos of himself enjoying the Warairarepano mountain while trekking in the impressive natural attraction that surrounds Caracas.
Precedent of air-transport weaponization
Venezuelans have suffered this psychological manipulation on at least two additional occasions in recent years, as Cabello recalled. In all previous instances, most international airlines participating in these manipulative operations eventually returned to Venezuela at some later point, after requesting new permits from Venezuelan authorities.
It is not clear yet if Venezuela will give those companies a new opportunity this time.
The main local and international airlines operating in Venezuela met on Monday at INAC’s headquarters with the minister of transportation, Ramón Velásquez, and other aeronautical authorities. The objective was to coordinate actions to guarantee the continuity and normality of air transport in the country. During the meeting, international airlines were given the notice to resume operations, and their arguments of legal and operational constraints for not resuming flights were also analyzed.
Special for Orinoco Tribune by staff
OT/JRE/AU
