Air Europa and Iberia have been forced to cancel several flights to Venezuela after the country imposed operational limits following the temporary closure of Caracas. Both airlines have been using Valencia as an alternative airport while repairs continue at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia after earthquake damage.
Air Europa said it had suspended flights scheduled to depart Madrid on 17, 19, 24, 26 and 31 July, as well as 7 and 14 August. It also cancelled the return services on those dates, while keeping flights planned for 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28 and 30 July.
Iberia has also had to cancel departures on 9 and 12 July, with more cancellations expected in the coming weeks. The airline said customers travelling to Venezuela can use its connections via Panama or Bogota while the disruption continues.
The measures underline the pressure on airlines trying to maintain services to Venezuela as the situation around Caracas remains unresolved. Air Europa, owned by the Hidalgo family, said it was still working to ensure continuity of its operations on future dates, but gave no timetable for a return to normal service in Caracas.
Iberia, part of IAG, said it would keep monitoring the situation and would inform passengers of any further changes that could affect flights. It said the disruption affects Venezuela alone because of its exceptional context.
The cancellations come as airlines continue to adjust schedules to cope with restrictions caused by the temporary shutdown in Caracas. Valencia has been used as a stopgap while work is carried out on the damaged airport in Maiquetia, leaving carriers with reduced flexibility and forcing them to alter timetables at short notice.
For passengers, the latest changes mean longer journeys, more uncertainty and a reliance on connecting flights through other Latin American hubs. The airlines have urged customers to check for updates before travelling, as further cancellations remain possible if the restrictions stay in place.
Air Europa and Iberia have both recently faced a difficult operational environment in Venezuela, where flight planning has been disrupted by events beyond the airlines’ control. The latest cancellations add to a wider pattern of instability that has affected multiple services between Spain and Venezuela.
Neither airline has said when direct operations to Caracas are likely to resume in full. Until then, both carriers appear set to continue using alternative routes and temporary workarounds to keep at least some services operating.
