Venezuelan carriers Laser, Avior, and Conviasa resume domestic flights after US military intervention

Laser Airlines, Avior, and Conviasa officially resumed domestic flight operations on January 4 at Caracas following the US military’s capture of former President Nicolás Maduro on January 3.

The reactivation came after the Trump administration warned airlines to avoid Venezuelan airspace due to security risks from military aircraft during the operation.

Laser has made temporary adjustments to its Caracas routes, including Maracaibo, Porlamar, El Vigía, Barcelona, and La Fría. Passengers holding reservations for January 4 could board as scheduled, subject to new departure times, while those unable to travel on January 3 may rebook without penalties.

Avior confirmed the restart of its Caracas services to Porlamar, Maracaibo, Barcelona, Las Piedras, El Vigía, Barquisimeto, and Puerto Ordaz. Conviasa, as the state-owned carrier, also resumed standard domestic schedules.

The Maiquetía International Airport, Venezuela’s main gateway, validated the restoration of national flights on January 4. Both Laser and Venezolana announced that international services to Madrid, Curaçao, and Bogotá would recommence on January 5, and passengers affected by suspensions on January 3 and 4 can rebook without extra charges.

Before the disruption, Venezuelan domestic airlines faced no regulatory or network issues affecting schedules. The interruptions stemmed solely from temporary security restrictions during the US military operation.

Venezuela’s domestic market has seen significant fluctuations in recent years due to political instability. Laser, Avior, and Conviasa collectively operate key trunk routes with narrowbody aircraft, including the Boeing 737 and MD-80 families.

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Ricardo Meier

Creator of the website that started in 1996 as a magazine. He also writes on Brazilian websites AUTOO, MOTOO and MetrôCPTM.

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