Venezuela says it will ban flights by Delta and Continental airlines and sharply reduce American Airlines flights beginning Wednesday, escalating a long-simmering dispute between the U.S. and Venezuelan governments over safety regulations.
Delta, which flies between Atlanta and Caracas, said it is working with U.S. officials to try to resolve the issue.
The United States blocked Venezuelan carriers from increasing U.S. flights 10 years ago, calling Venezuela's government oversight too lax. Delta and Continental began flying to Venezuela in that period, and American has increased flights there. Venezuelan officials say their country's airlines now meet international airline safety standards and should be allowed more U.S. flights. The dispute comes amid deteriorating relations between the Venezuelan government, led by Hugo Chavez, and the United States. "We have exhausted all avenues with the U.S. aeronautical authority," Venezuela's National Aviation Institute said in a statement. "We have been forced to reduce the frequency of flights of U.S. airline companies from the U.S." Delta, which has recently expanded Latin America and other overseas flights as part of its bankruptcy recovery plan, operates a daily flight from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to Caracas using a 150-seat Boeing 737-800. Gina Laughlin, a Delta spokeswoman, said Friday the airline is "very disappointed" by the possible Venezuelan lockout. "We are working closely with the U.S. departments of state and transportation as well as other airlines that received a similar notice to resolve the issue as quickly as possible," she said. No other passenger carriers fly between Atlanta and Caracas, and Delta said it hasn't tried to rebook passengers on other flights.
Venezuela recently launched a state-owned airline, Conviasa, with plans for expansive international routes. The airline is a showpiece for Chavez's "21st Century Socialism" economic program. Industry officials say Chavez may be forcing a conflict to gain U.S. flights for Conviasa. The airline currently flies within South America and the Caribbean only.
Less Dorr, an FAA spokesman in Washington, said the agency assesses foreign governments' ability to monitor airlines. A decade ago, Venezuela slipped in the FAA's estimation to Category II from Category I — and that subpar evaluation hasn't changed.
"We don't look at individual airlines," he said. "We look at the ability of governments to ensure they're meeting international standards."
Airline consultant Jon Ash said the inspection process is relatively open and objective — but that strained relations between Washington and Caracas could complicate this dispute. Chavez has accused the United States of trying to overthrow his government and threatened to cut off oil sales.
Ash said officials in both countries will feel pressure to make a deal. A sharp reduction in flights will hurt Venezuela, and U.S. carriers are beefing up international routes where they can avoid low-cost competitors.
» Venezuela Flight Suspenion Update from TheAirlineHub
*Update* for this storyVenezuela suspended the reduction of flights from the United States until March 30, to allow time for negotiations to guarantee equitable air operations between the two countries, the National Civil Aviation Institute (INAC) anno... [Read More]
Tracked on: February 28, 2006 7:54 AM | Permalink to Trackback