• Venezuela's aviation authority has revoked operating permits for six international carriers after they suspended flights.
  • The suspensions followed an FAA security advisory citing GPS interference, military mobilization, and active air-defense systems.
  • The dispute pits Venezuela's assertion of airspace sovereignty against international safety standards, deepening the country's economic isolation.

Venezuela’s National Institute of Civil Aviation (INAC) has taken a hardline stance in an escalating dispute over its airspace, formally revoking the operating permits of six foreign airlines. The move comes after carriers including Iberia, TAP Air Portugal, Avianca, LATAM Airlines Colombia, Turkish Airlines, and GOL suspended services to the country.

The suspensions were a direct response to a serious advisory (KICZ A0012/25) issued by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on November 21. The FAA warning for the entire Maiquetía Flight Information Region cited a "potentially hazardous situation" due to worsening security conditions, significant GPS interference extending up to 250 nautical miles, and heightened military activity, including active air-defense systems capable of reaching civil flight altitudes.

In a government statement, Venezuelan authorities demanded "respect for its airspace" and stated it "will not accept foreign orders or threats." Rather than address the specific security concerns, INAC issued a 48-hour ultimatum for airlines to resume flights, a deadline that passed without compliance, leading to the permit revocations. The International Air Transport Association has urged Venezuelan authorities to reconsider the decision, according to people familiar with the matter.

The FAA's assessment is not an isolated one. Aviation authorities in Spain and Portugal have issued their own warnings, mirroring the U.S. advisory and advising crews to avoid Venezuelan airspace, citing increased military activity and poor coordination. These concerns coincide with a significant U.S. military buildup in the region, including the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier group, which Venezuela has publicly condemned.

For the airlines, the choice was between violating stringent international safety protocols or losing access to a key market. With no visible de-escalation of the military tensions that prompted the warnings, carriers opted for safety. The result is a severe blow to Venezuela's already struggling economy, further crippling its tourism industry and cutting off a vital link for business travel. Attempts to reach INAC for further comment on Thursday were unsuccessful.