Venezuela: Conviasa flights suspended until further notice

Event

The Venezuelan national airline Conviasa has suspended all flights until further notice. The decision was taken on Friday, May 5, due to financial issues that have left the airline unable to pay its legally compulsory insurance. All international and domestic flights remain grounded, stranding thousands of passengers at the airline’s hub Caracas-Maiquetía Simón Bolivar International Airport (CCS). This also affects Conviasa flights that had been operated by the Spanish charter airline Wamos Air.

Context

Various other airlines have suspended or reduced flights to and from Venezuela in recent years due to currency exchange issues combined with low demand and deteriorating security conditions.

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 gasoline, medications, food, and other basic necessities, an alarming spike in rates of violent crime, massive inflation and economic recession, and a resurgence of disease. 

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.