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Airline Pullbacks Deepen as Copa, Wingo Pause Caracas Flights Over Navigation‑Signal Issues

Repatriation flights from the United States continue under special authorization despite widespread commercial suspensions.

Overview

  • Copa Airlines and its affiliate Wingo temporarily suspended services to and from Caracas for December 4–5 after pilots reported intermittencies in a navigation signal, which the carrier said did not compromise safety.
  • Venezuelan carrier Laser canceled CaracasMadrid operations through December 8, citing Spanish regulator AESA's NOTAMs B9272/25 and B9273/25 advising against overflights.
  • Iberia, Air Europa, TAP, Avianca, Latam, Turkish Airlines and Gol had already halted routes, and Venezuelan authorities revoked some permissions, accusing foreign airlines of aligning with U.S. pressure.
  • A U.S.-operated Eastern Airlines flight carrying deported Venezuelans arrived in Caracas on Wednesday, and Venezuelan officials said the United States requested the resumption of these repatriation flights on the PhoenixMaiquetía route.
  • The FAA warned of heightened military activity near Venezuela and President Donald Trump urged treating the airspace as closed, as a broader U.S. deployment in the Caribbean shapes airline risk assessments.