Caracas Revokes Operating Permits for Six Airlines Following FAA Warning

The National Institute of Civil Aeronautics of Venezuela (INAC) took decisive action on November 26, 2025, withdrawing the operational licenses held by six major international carriers. This move followed the unilateral decision by these airlines to suspend commercial flights into the nation. The suspension was triggered by a safety advisory issued by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) concerning flight conditions within the Maiquetía Flight Information Region (SVZM FIR).

Caracas had issued a firm ultimatum, demanding that the suspended carriers resume their services within a strict 48-hour window. Failure to comply with this deadline resulted in the immediate cancellation of licenses for Iberia, TAP Air Portugal, Avianca, LATAM Airlines, GOL, and Turkish Airlines. The initial disruption stemmed from the FAA's notification on November 21, 2025, which highlighted escalating safety concerns and increased military activity throughout the region. INAC publicly accused the six airlines of aligning themselves with what it termed “acts of state terrorism encouraged by the United States government.”

Conversely, several other aviation companies managed to retain their operating permissions by adhering to the deadline set by the Venezuelan authorities. Notably, Air Europa and Plus Ultra continued their operations without interruption, as did Copa Airlines and Wingo. The response from Portugal’s Foreign Minister, Paulo Rangel, was swift, describing the revocation of TAP’s permit as “absolutely disproportionate.” He maintained that his airline’s decision to halt flights was based strictly on paramount safety considerations. Meanwhile, Iberia expressed optimism about resuming service once “complete safety conditions” were guaranteed, while Avianca announced a rescheduling of its affected flights for December 5.

This entire incident unfolds against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical tension. Since the beginning of September 2025, U.S. armed forces have conducted no fewer than 21 strikes against vessels suspected of involvement in drug trafficking, resulting in the confirmed deaths of at least 83 individuals. These military operations coincided with the U.S. administration’s plan, announced for November 24, to formally designate the organization known as ‘Cartel de los Soles’ as a terrorist entity—a move Venezuela strongly condemned as calculated acts of assassination. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) voiced support for the affected carriers, emphasizing that the protection of passengers and crew remained their foremost priority.

It is worth noting that U.S. carriers have already been barred from operating flights to Venezuela since 2019. Furthermore, Spain’s Aviation Safety Agency (AESA) had advised its national airlines against flying in Venezuelan airspace until at least December 1. This latest episode clearly illustrates how commercial aviation is increasingly becoming an arena where sovereign and political disagreements between nations play out publicly, casting a shadow over the future viability of direct air links connecting Europe, South America, and Venezuela.