Copa Airlines Extends Venezuela Flight Suspension

Panamanian airline Copa Airlines has once again extended the suspension of flights to and from Caracas, Venezuela, until December 18, 2025. The decision was made amid escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela. In a statement, the airline said it continues to monitor and evaluate the necessary conditions to ensure the operational safety of its flights to Venezuela, leading to the temporary suspension of service to Caracas. During this period, to meet high passenger demand, Copa has increased its operations to the Colombian city of Cúcuta, a border zone with Venezuela. Copa is also evaluating alternative airports with approach navigation systems not affected by recent signal disruptions. For customers with flights scheduled up to that date, the airline offers options including free date changes, cancellations with a ticket credit for future travel, and refunds for unused or partially used tickets. This comes against the backdrop of a U.S. military deployment in the Caribbean, defended by the White House as part of its anti-drug strategy, which the Venezuelan government of Nicolás Maduro has called a 'threat' and an attempt at regime change. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has urged 'extreme caution' when flying over Venezuela and the southern Caribbean due to what it considers a 'potentially dangerous' situation in the area.