Airlines pull Venezuela flights amid safety warning, as Trump ratchets up pressure on Maduro

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Several major airlineshave pulled Venezuelan flights following a U.S.aviation safety warning, disrupting travel to the country and as the Trump administration escalates pressure on President Nicolás Maduro.

According toReuters, at least three airlines, Brazil’s Gol, Colombia’s Avianca, and TAP Air Portugal, canceled departures from Caracas Saturday, with other international carriers making changes through Monday.

The flight disruption also impacted the U.K.and Europe, coinciding with the administration’s decision to designate the Venezuelan group known as the Cartel de los Soles, as a foreign terrorist organization.

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned airlines about flying over Venezuela, issuing a notice urging them to “exercise caution” due to the “potentially hazardous situation” in the region.(AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

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TAP said its flight decision followed U.S.advisories indicating that safety could not be guaranteed, Reuters reported.

Spain’s Iberia said it would suspend flights to Caracas starting Monday “until further notice,” though its Saturday service to Madrid operated as planned, per the report.

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Copa Airlines and Wingo continued operations, while LATAM canceled its Sunday Bogotá-bound flight.

The airline changes primarily came after theU.S.Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)issued a warning to aircraft operating in or over Venezuelan airspace.

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FILE - In this Jan. 26, 2007 file photo, an American Airlines plane sits on the tarmac at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia, Venezuela. American Airlines said Tuesday, June 17, 2014 that it will cut nearly 80 percent of its flights to Venezuela in a dispute over revenue being held by the South American country. (AP Photo/Rafael Moreno, File)

American Airlines plane sits on the tarmac at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia, Venezuela. (AP)

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22, about flying over Venezuela, issuing a notice urging them to “exercise caution” due to the “potentially hazardous situation” in the region.

The advisory comes as the U.S.has significantly increased its military presenceacross the Caribbeandeploying bombers, warships, and Marines as part of a campaign targeting drug-trafficking operating near the region and airstrikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels.

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On Monday, theState Departmentwent on to formally announce the designation of the Cartel de los Soles in the Federal Register.

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USS Gravely and several other destroyers have been deployed to U.S.Southern Command as the Trump administration takes on drug cartels and President Nicolás Maduro.(Getty Images)

The Cartel de los Soles, or “Cartel of the Suns,” refers to a network of government and military officials in Venezuela engaged in drug trafficking.

Secretary of StateMarco Rubiohad said in a statement last week that the Cartel de los Soles and other cartels in Venezuela were “responsible for terrorist violence throughout our hemisphere as well as for trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe.”

On Monday,European governmentsquickly updated their travel guidance.Germanywarned that Venezuela’s situationremained “tense” and could deteriorate further.

Meanwhile, the U.K.advised travelers Sunday that flights were being canceled on short notice.

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“Some airlines have canceled flights at short notice,” theU.K.governmentadvised.“If you have an upcoming flight to or from Venezuela, you should stay in touch with your airline or travel agency,” it said.

S.overnight team, across desks including foreign, politics, news, sport and culture. 

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