On November 29, 2025, US President Donald Trump declared via social media that the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela should be considered “closed in its entirety.” Almost immediately, airlines altered their flight schedules or canceled routes, creating another dramatic ripple across international aviation. The sudden move marks a sharp escalation in US-Venezuela tensions, tied to accusations of drug trafficking and mounting military pressure.

For airlines, passengers, and the aviation industry at large, the implications are immediate and far-reaching. With civil overflights diverted around Venezuelan airspace, flight charts and schedules are being reworked globally. The disruption comes on top of recent developments where several carriers lost their Venezuelan operating rights — a result of earlier flight suspensions and government sanctions.

Key Developments Following Trump’s Airspace Closure Order

In his message, Trump specifically addressed “Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers,” warning them to avoid Venezuelan airspace. According to flight-tracking data from Flightradar24, by Sunday morning, there were virtually no civilian flights over Venezuela. Instead, aircraft were observed skirting the country’s periphery. Currently, as of 30 November, 18.00 GMT, a few aircraft are above Venezuela – all operated by local airlines and private owners, and are among the most tracked. No international airlines fly over the Venezuelan airspace.

The reaction from the Venezuelan government was swift and vocal. Caracas denounced the declaration as a “colonialist threat,” rejecting its legitimacy and framing it as an attempt to undermine national sovereignty and aeronautical security, as reported by Newsweek. At the same time, the closure has complicated migrant deportation flights, which the US had been conducting regularly. According to Venezuelan authorities, as reported by the AP news agency, those deportation schedules are now suspended.

The exact words that Trump used regarding the tensions around Venezuela on his social media platform, “Truth”, are as follows:

To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY. Thank you for your attention to this matter! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP

The Affected Airspace

The timing of Trump’s post comes in the wake of warnings issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which had urged pilots to “exercise caution” when flying over or near Venezuela. The FAA cited “heightened military activity,” increased risks to civil aircraft at all altitudes, and potential GPS interference as reasons for concern.

As a result, airlines, such as Iberia, TAP Air Portugal, Avianca, LATAM airlines, GOL Linhas Aéreas, and others had already started canceling or suspending flights to and from Venezuela. The actions taken by these airlines preceded but were reinforced by Trump’s declaration, highlighting an ongoing airline exodus.

From an operational standpoint, the closure has effectively transformed what was once a busy South American air corridor into a no-fly zone for many airlines. Flights previously overflying Venezuelan airspace are now being rerouted, resulting in longer flight times, increased fuel consumption, and higher costs. For passengers, especially those traveling between continents with layovers near the region, this means longer trips and, in some cases, fewer available options. It also created additional problems for Venezuelans and foreigners stuck there who want to leave the country by air.

What This Means For Operations In The Region

To make matters worse, the official rejection from Caracas is accompanied by punitive measures: just days ago, Venezuelan authorities revoked the operating rights of six international airlines that had suspended service, including major international carriers such as Iberia, TAP, Turkish Airlines, and operators from neighboring countries such as Avianca, GOL, and LATAM Colombia. That move had already limited commercial aviation links even before Trump’s announcement.

Legal experts note that, under international law and norms, including provisions of the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, only a sovereign state can close its own airspace. A unilateral statement by a foreign leader lacks legal standing. Thus, while airlines have complied in large part, the “closure” remains a de facto suspension rather than a legally enforced no-fly zone.

Meanwhile, the broader political and military backdrop continues to evolve. The US has stepped up a regional anti-drug and security campaign that includes naval deployments and strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean – operations that Washington claims are aimed at disrupting criminal networks connected to the Venezuelan regime, as reported by TIME magazine.

As a result, aviation planners, airlines, and passengers must now navigate a landscape reshaped by geopolitics. For the world’s airlines, Venezuelan airspace, which was once just another stretch of blue sky, has become too unstable.