Venezuela Revokes Permits for Six International Airlines After U.S. Safety Warning

Venezuela's civil aviation authority has revoked the operating permits of six international carriers after those airlines temporarily suspended flights to the country following a U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advisory about safety risks in Venezuelan airspace.

The airlines affected are Spain's Iberia, Portugal's TAP, Colombia's Avianca, Brazil's GOL, Turkish Airlines and LATAM (based in Chile and Brazil). Caracas accused the carriers of aligning with what it described as "actions of state terrorism promoted by the United States." Foreign officials and airline representatives criticised the revocations as "disproportionate."

Safety warning and airline responses

The FAA had warned airlines of a "potentially hazardous situation" in Venezuelan airspace, citing a "worsening security situation and heightened military activity." Several carriers paused flights citing safety concerns. Industry bodies later said Venezuelan authorities gave airlines a short deadline to resume services or face suspension of operating rights.

Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel said Lisbon would use diplomatic channels to clarify that the suspension of flights was temporary and undertaken for safety reasons. He said:

"We will make the Venezuelan authorities aware that this measure is disproportionate; we have no intention of cancelling our routes to Venezuela, and the pauses were taken only for security reasons."

An Iberia source said the carrier hoped to resume services "as soon as full security conditions are met," adding that it could not operate in areas assessed to be high risk.

Broader context

The dispute comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Caracas. The U.S. has increased military deployments to the Caribbean region, citing efforts to combat drug trafficking. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has said those movements could presage actions aimed at destabilising his government, prompting Venezuela to bolster its own military preparedness.

Washington has long criticised Maduro's government over human rights and has recognised Venezuela's opposition as the legitimate winner of the 2024 presidential vote, in contrast to Maduro's claims. Since September, U.S. forces have conducted air strikes on maritime targets they say were involved in drug trafficking; rights groups and some legal scholars say those strikes may amount to extrajudicial killings and could violate international law. U.S. officials have suggested, without providing evidence publicly, that some of the people killed had ties to criminal groups in Venezuela.

What happens next

International airlines and foreign governments have urged diplomatic dialogue to clarify the safety-driven suspensions and to find a resolution that allows commercial flights to resume without further escalating the geopolitical standoff. Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello responded to the cancellations with a defiant message:

"Keep your planes, and we will keep our dignity."

The situation remains fluid: carriers say they will monitor security assessments before restoring services, while governments and aviation bodies continue diplomatic and regulatory discussions to determine next steps.