Venezuela: United Airlines suspends flights to Caracas from July 1

Event

The American carrier United Airlines will suspend all flights to Venezuela - i.e. its daily flights between Houston and Caracas - from July 1 due to low demand. United Airline’s route had been popular with oil industry employees but Venezuela’s currently political instability, social unrest, and dire economic context have had a major impact on the oil industry.

Numerous other airlines - including American Airlines, Delta, Lufthansa, Air Canada, LATAM, and AeroMexico - have suspended or reduced services to and from Venezuela in recent years due to currency exchange issues combined with low demand and deteriorating security conditions.

Context

This suspension comes during an ongoing wave of often-deadly protests that have been occurring on a near-daily basis in Caracas and other cities across the country since early April. Demonstrators are denouncing a wide range of grievances as well as demanding elections. Venezuela has been devastated by a long series of crises affecting the restive country in recent months and years, including a breakdown of the democratic system, major shortages of basic necessities, an alarming spike in rates of violent crime, massive inflation and economic recession, and a resurgence of disease. At least 66 deaths have been reported to date.

Advice

Travelers are advised to make alternate arrangements when flying to, from, or within Venezuela. Individuals throughout the country are advised to adhere to strictly avoid all protests and associated roadblocks due to the likelihood of violence, to closely monitor the situation, and to remain vigilant at all times.