Venezuela Plans to Resume Flights on Parallel Runway at Main Airport

Venezuela is preparing to restart commercial flights at its primary international gateway, the Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, using a parallel runway. The airport has been significantly impacted by devastating earthquakes that struck on June 24.

Delcy Rodríguez, the acting president, inspected the ongoing recovery work and announced an "immediate plan to resume" operations for commercial airlines as soon as possible. However, she did not provide a specific timeline for when flights would recommence. The announcement was broadcast on the state channel Venezolana de Televisión (VTV), showing heavy machinery deployed on the runway affected by the seismic activity.

The earthquakes also caused severe damage to the terminal facilities in the La Guaira region, near Caracas. Following the tremors, the airport was closed, leading several airlines to reroute their operations to Valencia, a city located about 172 kilometers from Caracas.

Rodríguez also mentioned an international partnership for the airport's recovery, though details remain scarce. The government plans to address the damage to all affected airports, though specific locations beyond Maiquetía were not identified. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has offered technical assistance to help restore regular operations at the Venezuelan airport, even suggesting the use of temporary infrastructure.

The earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, have resulted in a significant loss of life and widespread destruction, with official figures reporting at least 3,535 deaths, 16,740 injuries, and over 17,800 people displaced. Hundreds of buildings were affected, and 190 have collapsed.

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immediate plan to resume