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Airlines Suspend Flights to Venezuela After FAA Warns of Security Risks Amid U.S. Military Buildup

The FAA warned of unspecified threats to aircraft in Venezuelan airspace, prompting several international carriers to suspend flights. Six airlines halted services indefinitely, and Turkish Airlines paused flights Nov. 24–28. The advisory comes amid increased U.S. military activity near Venezuela, including bomber flights and the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford. Colombian President Gustavo Petro urged maintaining regular air links, calling restrictions a crime against humanity.

03:40 AM, 11/24/2025Security
Airlines Suspend Flights to Venezuela After FAA Warns of Security Risks Amid U.S. Military Buildup

International carriers increasingly suspended service to Venezuela after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an advisory urging pilots to exercise caution when operating in the country’s airspace. The advisory warned that unspecified threats "could pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes," including aircraft taking off, landing or on the ground.

Marisela de Loaiza, president of Venezuela’s Airlines Association, said six carriers have indefinitely halted flights: TAP, LATAM, Avianca, Iberia, Gol and Caribbean. Separately, Turkish Airlines announced a temporary suspension of flights from Nov. 24 to Nov. 28.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro wrote on X that "there must be regular flights to all Latin American countries and from Latin America and the world," adding that "countries are not blocked, because blocking countries means blocking people, and that is a crime against humanity."

The FAA advisory prompted airlines to reassess schedules and operational safety while aviation authorities and carriers monitor conditions on the ground and in the air. Company statements and flight trackers showed a noticeable reduction in scheduled international services to Venezuela as operators weigh safety and liability risks.

U.S. military activity and regional context

The advisory followed a marked escalation in U.S. military activity near Venezuela. U.S. bomber flights have approached the Venezuelan coast, sometimes as part of training exercises that simulated attack scenarios, and the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford — accompanied by several destroyers — was deployed to the region. U.S. officials described the deployment as part of the largest force assembled in the Caribbean near Venezuela in generations.

The current U.S. administration has intensified pressure on President Nicolás Maduro, whom it does not recognize as Venezuela’s legitimate leader; Maduro faces narcoterrorism charges in the United States. Since early September, U.S. forces have also targeted small boats they say were transporting drugs to the U.S., actions authorities say have resulted in more than 80 deaths in total.

For now, travelers and businesses should expect continued disruption to air links with Venezuela while aviation authorities, airlines and governments assess risks and consider possible mitigations. Officials have not provided detailed public information about the specific nature of the threats cited in the FAA advisory.

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