Source: IATA
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reiterated that safety is and will always be the number one priority in aviation. Hence, airlines must retain the freedom to individually assess risks, including airspace closures, safeguarding the safety of passengers and crew.
This is even more important in scenarios where specific alerts and concerns from stakeholders have been raised. In such cases, airlines will comply with all regulatory frameworks when needing to suspend or cancel flights.
Airlines have publicly stated their willingness to restore services to Venezuela as soon as conditions allow to do this safely and efficiently.
IATA therefore urges governments and stakeholders to respect airlines’ responsibility to make safety-driven decisions, reinforcing the principle that while the skies must remain open, safety and legal compliance must always come first.