Panamanian carrier Copa Airlines and its Colombian subsidiary Wingo has become the latest airline to suspended all flights to and from Caracas on 8 December 2025.
These carriers had continued operations after earlier suspensions by six other airlines on 22 November.The initial group of airlines that suspended flights included Spain’s Iberia, Portugal’s TAP, Colombia’s Avianca, Chile and Brazil’s LATAM, Brazil’s Gol, and Turkish Airlines. Venezuela’s civil aviation authority revoked their operating permits on 27 November after they failed to meet a 48-hour deadline to resume service.
National airlines in Venezuela continue international routes, but no foreign carriers operate to the country as of 9 December. The suspensions affect around 1,500 travellers daily, according to Colombia’s Civil Aviation Authority. Airlines advised passengers to check updates, with most listing suspensions as indefinite pending resolution of security concerns.
Pilots reported intermittent flickering of navigation signals during flights over Venezuela. The airline described the suspension as preventive. Multiple carriers had cancelled flights to Venezuela the previous week.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a NOTAM that advised caution due to increased military activity.
Copa Airlines shared “Copa Airlines informs that, due to intermittent aircraft navigation signals reported by our pilots today, a situation that at no time compromised operational safety, we have taken the preventive decision to temporarily suspend flights to and from Caracas.”
Background
United States President Donald Trump declared Venezuelan airspace closed in its entirety on 29 November, which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to issue a notice on 21 November that warned of hazards from military activity and GPS interference. Airlines including Iberia, Air Europa, Turkish Airlines, Avianca, and TAP suspended flights to Caracas by 1 December, while the Spanish State Aviation Safety Agency advised carriers to halt routes until 1 December.
Panamanian carrier Copa Airlines and its subsidiary Wingo paused operations to Caracas on 4 December after pilots detected navigation signal issues, and Colombian airline Satena along with Boliviana de Aviacion followed on 5 December with similar suspensions due to satellite failures. Venezuelan authorities revoked operating licences for six international airlines on 28 November that had cancelled services, which left the country with air links only to Bogotá, Panama City, and some Antilles islands.
United Nations experts condemned the United States declaration on 4 December as an escalation that lacked legal basis under international law, and Iranian officials expressed support for Venezuela’s position on the same day. China and Russia resumed direct flights to Caracas and Maracaibo on 4 December, which defied the United States directive and restored some commercial routes amid claims from Venezuelan officials that the moves ended United States aviation dominance.
A United States migrant repatriation flight landed near Caracas on 3 December, and Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil confirmed on 4 December that the country approved further deportation flights from Phoenix despite the airspace tensions.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro criticised the closure on 1 December as an illegal act that violated sovereignty, and business owners in La Guaira state reported delays in imported goods that raised costs by 15 per cent and risked shortages ahead of Christmas.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation stated on 5 December that each country controls its own airspace, but airlines conduct their own risk assessments. Flight tracking data showed that crossings of Venezuelan airspace halved since 22 November, though seven aircraft including Bolivarian Air Force planes operated on 30 November.
Flights crossing Venezuelan airspace dropped by half from 22 November, with aircraft rerouted via alternative paths. The International Air Transport Association stated on 27 November that member airlines sought to restore operations but prioritised safety.
The United States military maintained a presence in the Caribbean, and senators introduced a war powers resolution on 3 December that required congressional approval for any strikes on Venezuelan territory. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro addressed the nation on 7 December, urging citizens to prepare for potential further isolations while domestic airlines continued limited international services.
