Venezuela earthquakes close Maiquetía Airport, halt flights and shift traffic to alternate hubs

Two powerful quakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela on 24 June, causing severe structural damage to Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía. The airport was shut indefinitely, prompting the UN to estimate damage at $6.7 billion and reporting 1,719‑1,943 deaths, over 5,000 injuries and roughly 16,000 people displaced.

Airlines responded by suspending or re‑routing services. Venezuela’s state carrier Conviasa halted its Caracas‑Havana route for an estimated 15 days, while European carrier Air Europa moved its Madrid‑Valencia flights to Arturo Michelena Airport and offered flexible ticket changes. Other carriers, including Iberia, Copa and American Airlines, also paused operations to Caracas.

Domestic traffic began to recover on 1 July when national airlines resumed flights at Maturín International Airport. Meanwhile, Valencia Airport was designated the main international bridge, hosting a contingency schedule from Copa, Turpial, LATAM, Avianca, Plus Ultra, Air Europa, Rutaca and others to destinations such as Bogotá, Panama, Madrid and Havana.

The airport closures and flight adjustments aim to maintain passenger connectivity while prioritising humanitarian and emergency flights into the disaster‑stricken region.