Turkish Airlines on Sunday announced a temporary suspension of flights to Venezuela after the US civil aviation regulator warned of dangers from “heightened military activity” amid a major buildup of American forces in the region.
Following similar decisions by Spain’s Iberia, Portugal’s TAP, Chile’s LATAM, Colombia’s Avianca and Brazil’s GOL, Turkish Airlines said it will halt its Venezuela-bound services from November 24-28.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Friday urged civilian aircraft in Venezuelan airspace to “exercise caution” due to the “worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around Venezuela.”
“Threats could pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes, including during overflight, the arrival and departure phases of flight, and/or airports and aircraft on the ground,” it said.
Washington has sent an aircraft carrier strike group and other Navy warships as well as stealth aircraft to the region — deployments it says are aimed at curbing drug trafficking but which have sparked fears in Caracas that regime change is the goal.
A US terrorism designation takes effect Monday for a drug cartel allegedly headed by leftist Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, a move that some believe could presage military action against his government.
Washington’s forces have carried out strikes against more than 20 alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean since early September, killing more than 80 people.
But the United States has yet to release concrete evidence that the vessels it targeted were used to smuggle drugs or posed a threat to the country, and regional tensions have flared as a result of the campaign and the accompanying military buildup.
The suspension of flights shows mounting concern among aviation authorities and airlines about the safety of operations in Venezuelan airspace. While the Venezuelan government disputes any direct targeting of civil aviation, the FAA’s cautionary notice is valid until February 19, 2026.
For Turkey in particular, the decision signals a willingness to align with international aviation safety norms even in environments where bilateral ties or commercial interests might favor continuing operations.
Turkish Airlines had expanded its service to Venezuela in recent years as part of its global network growth. The suspension, though temporary, may disrupt cargo or passenger connections and could weigh on Turkey’s aviation outreach in Latin America.
Turkish Minute, with reporting from Agence France-Presse