Estelar Airlines Airbus A340-300 taxiing at the SimĂłn BolĂvar International Airport in MaiquetĂa, La Guaira state, Venezuela. Photo: Francisco Pinero/FlyNews/file photo.
Caracas (OrinocoTribune.com)—Venezuela has reportedly suspended commercial flights to and from Chile. This information was reported on social media on Wednesday, September 25, by Telesur journalist Madelein GarcĂa. She published an aeronautical note, or “note to airmen” (Notam), reflecting the decision made by the Venezuelan government.
Until now, only the Venezuelan airline Estelar Airlines was flying the Caracas-Santiago de Chile route from the SimĂłn Bolivar International Airport in MaiquetĂa, Venezuela, with a weekly frequency.
This week, the Venezuelan vice minister for Latin America at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rander Peña, criticized the President of Chile, Gabriel Boric, for groveling to the Pinochet right, “begging for clemency and forgiveness in exchange for his servile, obedient spokesperson for fascism.”
This comes after Boric gave a speech at the 79th Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York, in which he attacked Venezuela and its institutions by questioning again the results of Venezuela’s July 28 presidential elections.
The suspension of Venezuelan flights to and from Chile follows the announcement on July 29, when air activities with Panama, Peru, and the Dominican Republic were also temporarily suspended. These decisions have created bottlenecks for Venezuelans traveling abroad as well as foreigners visiting Venezuela.
Colombia has become the most important international hub for travelers looking for destinations outside Venezuela and those looking to visit Venezuela.
In a statement, Estelar Airlines informed its passengers about the disruption in its services, letting them know that their September 28 (ES871) and 29 (ES870) flights from Caracas to Santiago and vice versa are the first to be affected. They also announced the indefinite suspension of all sales in that route.
According to most experts, Chile is the Latin American country with the highest number of Venezuelan migrants. The decision will primarily affect this group, as they will now have to take lengthy trips with expensive tickets via Colombia.
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According to aeronautical experts, this suspension, which joins the one already imposed on flights to Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Peru, reduces Venezuela’s international connectivity by more than 54%, as reported by local news outlets.
“Of the 181 international flights per week that there were before these measures, there are 83 left. That is 98 fewer [flights], which is equivalent to about 15,000 weekly seats that are no longer available. We have lost more than half of the international connectivity,” said an aeronautical business spokesperson.
Special for Orinoco Tribune by staff
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