US President Donald Trump's warning to airlines and pilots to be aware that Venezuelan airspace will remain completely closed has increased uncertainty among passengers with pending trips to or from Spain, as they express in their continuous inquiries on social media.
For now, Spanish companies are still waiting to see if the State Aviation Safety Agency (AESA) extends the warning it issued on November 24 - in effect until this Monday - to avoid flying to the area, although Air Europa has already announced that it is also cancelling the two Madrid-Caracas frequencies on December 2.
In response to travelers' questions directed to Air Europa's official account on X, the airline posted the following message this Saturday: Flights to/from Venezuela are currently canceled until December 2nd. If the situation in Venezuela does not improve, further flight cancellations will be made.
To allow users to readjust their plans, Air Europa has enabled special conditions such as free date changes on its flights until February 28, 2026, inclusive; free route changes to or from Medellín and Bogotá (Colombia) or Panama; a voucher or a refund.
Iberia
In the case of Iberia, the company has issued a flight flexibility plan.
Thus, if you fly between November 24, 2025 and January 31, 2026, originating from/destined for Caracas on flights operated by Iberia and you have purchased your ticket on the website or at Serviberia until November 26, you will be able to change the date of your reservation to travel until February 28.
Last Wednesday, the Ministry of Transport and the National Institute of Civil Aeronautics (INAC) of Venezuela announced their decision to revoke the license of Iberia, as well as that of the Portuguese airline TAP, the Colombian airline Avianca, Latam Colombia, Turkish Airlines and the Brazilian airline Gol.
But the full extent of this revocation, which would limit Venezuela's already severely diminished air connectivity, remains to be seen.
EAE Business School professor Romà Andreu points out that the fact that Iberia - like Air Europa or Plus Ultra - has suspended its flights to Venezuela is due to the notification (‘notam’, in aeronautical jargon) from the Spanish aviation authority, which specifies the risk of flying in that area.
These notifications are usually followed, and in the case of prohibitions, compliance is mandatory. If they are recommendations, airlines can disregard them, but they will be held responsible in the event of an incident or accident.
Therefore, the suspension of flights to that country is the right measure to ensure the safety of passengers, aircraft and crews, argues this expert, who believes that, in time, everything will ease up.
Plus Ultra
For their part, sources at Plus Ultra emphasize that they are currently following the recommendation of the Spanish aeronautical authority, and are awaiting the extension (or not) of said 'notam' to evaluate in real time.
The last two planes from Caracas landed in Madrid on November 24th, one from Air Europa and the other from Plus Ultra. Since then, there have been no more regular flights between the two countries.
Flight cancellations could affect around 15,000 passengers per week, according to industry sources, especially at this time of year when travel between the two sides of the Atlantic is heavier due to the approach of Christmas. EFE
