The government suspends commercial flights with Chile

The Venezuelan government has suspended commercial air operations with Chile for an undefined period, a source from the government told Efe on Wednesday. Ministry of Transport.

According to a NOTAM issued by the National Institute of Civil Aeronautics (INAC), attached to that State portfolio, “air commercial operations for passenger transport to and from the Republic of Chile are suspended,” without explaining the reason.

Authorities have suspended these operations one day after Chilean President Gabriel Boric, in his speech before the United Nations General Assembly, called the Venezuelan government a “dictatorship” and accused it of trying to “steal” the July 28 elections, in which Nicolás Maduro was declared the winner by the National Electoral Council (CNE).

Boric called for the recognition of “the victory” that the majority opposition – grouped in the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) – claims was obtained by its standard-bearer, Edmundo González Urrutia, by a wide margin.

The suspension of flights with Chile is in addition to the “temporary” cessation of air operations with Panama, the Dominican Republic and Peru, in force since July 31 by order of the Venezuelan Executive, in rejection of “the interference of right-wing governments” regarding the presidential elections, the results of which are still unknown in detail.

The president of the Venezuelan Association of Airlines (ALAV), Marisela de Loaiza, recently told Efe that the suspension of flights with Panama, the Dominican Republic and Peru is a “political” measure with which the oil-producing country reduced its international connectivity by 54%.

Of the 181 international flights per week that existed before the measure, there were 83 left, that is, 98 fewer, which is equivalent to approximately 15,000 weekly seats that are no longer available, according to the association..