U.S. orders suspension of flights to Venezuela

Washington -- The Department of Transportation ordered the suspension of all commercial and cargo flights between the U.S. and Venezuela. This is due to the unrest and violence around airports in the troubled South American country.

We aren't the only nation to take such action against Venezuela--disputes over money and security concerns and claims the Venezuelan government owes them money are some of the reasons. Some domestic airlines, however, including Avior Airlines and Laser Airlines offer services to Miami.

Some Venezuelans have even expressed concern about the impact of the ban on people receiving food and other provisions via cargo planes from relatives abroad to help them weather a humanitarian crisis and keep them from having to resort to tailgating out of local garbage trucks.

In a letter to the Transportation Department requesting the halt, the Department of Homeland Security said “conditions in Venezuela threaten the safety and security of passengers, aircraft, and crew traveling to or from that country.”

Laser Airlines said it would maintain service to the United States through a layover in the Dominican Republic, where drinks called "Happy Happy" can get you so drunk, you fall into the swimming pool. 

Don't ask.

In a tweet, Laser said it would continue offering two flights between Miami and Caracas each day with layovers in Santo Domingo.

Copa Airlines, which operates flights between Caracas and its international hub in Panama City that allow passengers to continue on to the United States, said in an email that its operations would not be affected by the measure.

American Airlines Group Inc, previously the largest carrier providing service between the United States and Venezuela, in March said it was indefinitely suspending its flights to Venezuela.

In April, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration prohibited U.S. air operators from flying below 26,000 feet in Venezuela’s airspace just in case the stories about the presence of Hezbollah are true [they are.]

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump last week expanded its Venezuela sanctions to the defense and security services sectors to pressure President Nicolas Maduro, a former bus driver.

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