Suspension of flights reduced Venezuela’s connection by 54%

The The suspension of commercial flights between Venezuela and Panama, the Dominican Republic and Peru, in effect since July 31, is a political measure with which the oil country reduced its flights by 54% its international connectivity, according to the Venezuelan Association of Airlines (ALAV).

Of the 181 international flights per week that existed before the measure, there are now 83 left, that is, 98 fewer, which is equivalent to some 15,000 weekly seats that are no longer available, the president of the association, Marisela de Loaiza, told Efe.

“We have lost more than half of our international connectivity,” said the union leader, who says she does not understand the reason for this measure, which – she warned – has repercussions not only on tourism, but also on the economy.

Why Venezuela ordered suspension of flights with three countries

On July 29, the Executive announced the temporary suspension, in rejection of the interference of right-wing governments in the presidential elections of July 28, in which Nicolás Maduro obtained a controversial re-election, considered fraudulent by the majority opposition and questioned by part of the international community, which demands the publication of the disaggregated results.

The Ministry of Transport “reserves the right to take legal action, in firm support of the political decisions of the State, in order to respect, preserve and defend the inalienable right of self-determination of the people,” the institution said in a statement issued after the expulsion of the diplomatic corps of Panama, the Dominican Republic and Peru, as well as Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica and Uruguay, for their “interventionist actions and statements” regarding the elections.

Although the media recently reported an alleged extension of the measure until September 30, the Ministry of Transport clarified to Efe that the suspension remains in effect because it never had an expiration date.

The connection with these three countries was of great importance for Venezuela due to its still low supply of direct international flights, despite the fact that its connectivity with the world improved after the coronavirus pandemic, which meant another blow to a sector that was already suffering the consequences of the economic crisis that began in 2014.

Venezuela had a total of 352 weekly international frequencies in 2013, the “moment of greatest boom due to access to foreign currency,” a figure that was reduced in 6 years to “only 100” in 2019 due to the “gradual withdrawal of airlines” due to “the impossibility of repatriating funds to their countries of origin,” as well as “the fall of the market,” according to ALAV.

How to travel from the United States to Venezuela?

As a result, Panama, for example, became the bridge to several cities in the United States, said De Loaiza, who also pointed out that Peru connects with countries in South America, and the options left after the suspension – he said – are not sufficient to satisfy the demand.

“Many people had to cancel travel plans or look for alternatives,” he said.

This is the case of Daniela, a twenty-something who traveled to the United States in June and was scheduled to return to Caracas on August 10, on a flight that would pass through Panama but was canceled, according to the airline, which offers, according to the young woman, the option of flying to another country that still has a connection with Venezuela, including Colombia.

As his stay in the US continues, he is considering how to return to his country, whose situation is also worrying, he explained to Efe.

Suspension of flights, a political measure

The suspension also affects Venezuelan airports, which “stop receiving” income without these operations, which connected cities in the country, in addition to Caracas, with the world through Panama, explained the owner of ALAV.

“It’s a political measure that doesn’t really benefit anyone,” said De Loaiza, also president of Conseturismo, who warns that the suspension affects the arrival of international tourists to Venezuela, where this sector, which was “hard hit” by the pandemic, “was just beginning to recover.”

He called for this measure to be reconsidered, although he warned that recovering what Venezuela had before the suspension will not be easy.

“It’s not that the planes are stopped waiting for Venezuela to open, those planes are going to other routes,” he added.

The interruption of the connection with Spain – Venezuela’s direct bridge to Europe – is a possibility, after the president of Parliament, Chavista Jorge Rodríguez, asked on Wednesday to draft a resolution urging the government to break diplomatic and commercial relations, and to “cease flights” between both nations “on Spanish airlines.”

This announcement was made after the Spanish Congress approved recognizing Edmundo González Urrutia -exiled in the European country- as president-elect, which was described as “the most brutal outrage” by Spain against Venezuela.