Flights return to Venezuela – but not Caracas

Spanish flag carrier Iberia has restored flights between Madrid and Venezuela, several weeks after the earthquakes in June – albeit to Arturo Michelena International Airport in Valencia, Venezuela, rather than the capital, Caracas.

Air Europa, another Spanish airline, has also confirmed that it will reroute its Caracas service to Valencia.

Both airlines have reported that the arrangement is temporary, until normal operations can return to Caracas.

Venezuela’s main gateway, Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas, remains closed due to severe damage caused by the earthquakes, including cracked runways and a damaged terminal.

Authorities have limited access to the airport to military, humanitarian, and diplomatic flights while repairs are made, and infrastructure is inspected.

The earthquakes, which occurred on 24 June 2026, have caused disruption to plans by many airlines to reconnect Venezuela to the outside world. Flights to the South American nation had been limited due to sanctions until the deposition of former President Nicolás Maduro at the start of this year.

Over 3,800 people dead, and thousands more displaced

The death toll from the two quakes has now risen to over 3,800 people, with 16,740 injured, and almost 18,000 people left homeless.

Venezuela’s Interim President Delcy Rodriguez has renewed calls ​for international sanctions to be lifted to assist the ​country’s recovery from the disaster.

Rodriguez argued on state television channel VTV that “Venezuela has resources blocked ​around the world that could address this process of reconstruction”.

The US, European Union (EU), and other nations have imposed a range of stringent sanctions on Venezuela over the past two decades due to allegations of anti-democratic activity and concerns about drug trafficking. Many such measures remain in place.