Escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela have prompted a swift response from international carriers, with three major airlines—Brazil’s Gol Linhas Aéreas, Colombia’s Avianca, and Portugal’s TAP Air Portugal—canceling all flights departing from Caracas’ Simón Bolívar International Airport on Saturday, November 22, 2025. The move follows a stark advisory from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued on Friday, warning of a “potentially hazardous situation” in Venezuelan airspace due to deteriorating security conditions and a surge in military activities around the country. The FAA urged all civilian aircraft to exercise extreme caution, citing risks at all altitudes, including during takeoff, landing, and overflights, amid reports of increased U.S. naval presence in the Caribbean, including the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, at least eight warships, and F-35 fighter jets as part of an anti-narcotics operation. TAP Air Portugal explicitly stated that the cancellations for Saturday and the following Tuesday stem from U.S. authorities’ assessment that safety in Venezuelan airspace cannot be guaranteed. Colombia’s Civil Aeronautics agency echoed these concerns, highlighting “potential risks” in the Maiquetía area linked to the security downturn and regional military buildup. While Spain’s Iberia has suspended flights to Caracas indefinitely starting Monday, its Saturday departure to Madrid proceeded as scheduled. Broader impacts include suspensions by Chile’s LATAM and Trinidad and Tobago’s Caribbean Airlines, bringing the total to six affected carriers, according to Venezuela’s Airlines Association (ALAV). Other airlines like Panama’s Copa and Turkey’s Turkish Airlines continue operations for now. This comes against a backdrop of U.S. accusations against President Nicolás Maduro’s regime for involvement in drug trafficking, with Washington intensifying rhetoric and military posturing, though direct U.S. flights to Venezuela have been banned since 2019. No incidents have been reported, but the disruptions underscore the fragility of air travel in politically volatile zones, leaving thousands of passengers scrambling for alternatives as regional stability hangs in the balance.