News / FAA warns against flights to Caracas amid military build-up

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A slew of international airlines have cancelled flights to Caracas after the US issued a security warning. 

On Friday, the US posted a security Notam, advising airlines to “exercise caution when operating in the Maiquetia flight information region at all altitudes due to the worsening security situation and heightened military activity …Threats could pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes, including during overflight, the arrival and departure phases of flight, and / or airports and aircraft on the ground.” 

The FAA added that there had been some interference with navigation satellite systems. 

“Some civil aircraft recently reported GNSS interference while transiting the [region] which, in some cases, caused lingering effects throughout the flight… 

“Additionally, since early September, Venezuela has conducted multiple military exercises and directed the mass mobilization of thousands of military and reserve forces. While Venezuela has at no point expressed an intent to target civil aviation, the Venezuelan military possesses advanced fighter aircraft and multiple weapons systems capable of reaching or exceeding civil aircraft operating altitudes, as well as potential low-altitude risk from man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) and anti-aircraft artillery.” 

However, there have been no scheduled services between the US and Venezuela for some six years. No other aviation authority has issued warnings about the region. In fact, Colombian President Gustavo Petro wrote on social media: “There should be normal flights to all Latin American countries from Latin America and the rest of the world. Countries should not be blocked, because blocking countries is blocking people, and that should be considered a crime against humanity. No state in one country should interfere in the affairs of another state.” 

Despite potential that the US move could be seen simply as political interference, Latam, Turkish, Iberia, TAP and Avianca have all announced flight cancellations.  

In the year-to-date, freighter capacity out of Caracas has gone up 5% year-on-year, according to Rotate, with the vast majority of flights operating to other Latin American destinations, chiefly Bogota, Curaçao, Quito and Panama. Key freight carriers this year include Latam, FlyPro, Copa, and DHL.  

DHL, which has added 86% more capacity there this year, has not yet announced whether it continues to fly into Venezuela, and has not responded to The Loadstar’s query. 

While there is little public information on Venezuela’s airfreight trade, imports are likely to include electronics and IT equipment, machinery and automotive and aviation spares, as well as express and ecommerce. Facilities at Caracas airport include a temperature-controlled warehouse, suggesting it also sees pharma and perishable imports, and likely food exports. 

Judging by Flightradar data, airlines are avoiding Venezuelan airspace, but of the more than 50 flights due to land in Caracas today, only one, a Latam flight, is showing as cancelled. 

In other Americas news, China Eastern is launching a flight to Buenos Aires from Shanghai, but with a fuel stop on Auckland, New Zealand. The twice weekly service, on a 777-300ER, will reportedly offer some 15 tonnes per week cargo capacity.