International Airlines Face Ultimatum Amid US Military Buildup and Tensions

Venezuela has given international airlines 48 hours to resume flights to Caracas or risk losing the right to operate in the country, according to an alert bulletin from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The Venezuelan directive came after several carriers suspended service following a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warning about the ‘potentially hazardous situation’ in Venezuelan airspace related to US military action in the region. IATA criticized the move and urged authorities in Caracas to withdraw the deadline, warning that it would further isolate a country already among the least-connected in Latin America. Multiple international carriers, including Spanish carrier Air Europa and Brazilian carrier Gol, have suspended flights to Caracas until conditions allow.