Published on
November 17, 2025
Amid the escalating security crisis in Venezuela, TAP Air Portugal and Gol Linhas Aéreas have made significant adjustments to their flight operations to protect their crews. As tensions rise in the region and the U.S. evaluates potential military action, both airlines have re-routed their flights to avoid overnight stays in Caracas, opting for technical stops in safer locations. TAP now flies via Point-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe, while Gol includes a stop in Manaus, Brazil. These strategic changes are necessary to minimize the risks posed by the unpredictable security environment while maintaining essential connections to Venezuela, ensuring the safety of airline staff in a volatile region.
Amid growing security concerns in Venezuela and the ongoing evaluation of military action by the United States, two major airlines have modified their operations to Caracas. TAP Air Portugal and Gol Linhas Aéreas have both adjusted their flight routes to ensure the safety of their crew members while continuing to serve the South American country.
TAP Air Portugal, which traditionally operates a twice-weekly direct flight from Lisbon to Caracas, has altered its route to avoid overnight stays in the Venezuelan capital. Instead of flying directly to Caracas, the airline will now route its flights through Point-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe. This change will remain in effect until February, as the airline works to minimize any potential risks to its crew members amid the escalating security situation in Venezuela.
Gol Linhas Aéreas, a Brazilian carrier, has also adjusted its operations to ensure the safety of its staff. The airline resumed flights to Caracas in August after a nine-year hiatus, offering four weekly services from São Paulo. In response to the current security risks in Venezuela, Gol has added a technical stop in Manaus, Brazil, on its nonstop São Paulo-Caracas route. This adjustment ensures that the crew does not have to stay overnight in Venezuela, reducing the exposure to potential dangers.
These operational changes come on the heels of ongoing evaluations within the U.S. government regarding the possibility of military intervention in Venezuela. The White House has recently increased its military presence in Latin America, with discussions surrounding the situation continuing to unfold. While U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that he has made up his mind about Venezuela, he has yet to provide further details on his plans.
TAP and Gol’s decision to implement technical stops in safe locations—Point-à-Pitre for TAP and Manaus for Gol—ensures that crews can change without having to remain in Venezuela. These segments of the flights are not available for passenger booking, prioritizing the safety of the airline’s staff. TAP’s new route operates as Lisbon to Point-à-Pitre, then onward to Caracas and back to Lisbon, while Gol’s flights follow a São Paulo to Manaus to Caracas routing, before returning directly to São Paulo.
Gol’s resumption of flights earlier this year marked a new connection between São Paulo and Caracas, with the airline having previously suspended services after a nine-year break. Before the resumption, Gol had also operated flights to Aruba via Caracas, further highlighting the airline’s efforts to regain its position in the region. Staff members have been advised to exercise heightened caution due to the unstable political and security climate in Venezuela.
In addition to TAP and Gol’s adjustments, other international airlines are beginning to respond to the shifting situation in Venezuela. Iberia, for example, has reduced its service between Madrid and Caracas for the upcoming months. The Spanish airline will cut its weekly frequency from five to four during February and March, a move that reflects declining demand as a result of lower forward bookings. However, Iberia plans to return to its original five-weekly schedule in April, with its Airbus A330 aircraft servicing the route.
While TAP and Gol have been the first airlines to make significant operational changes in response to the current situation, other international airlines continue to operate flights to Caracas without modifications. Turkish Airlines, for example, maintains daily flights from Istanbul to Caracas, with four of its weekly services routing via Havana, Cuba. The airline has not made adjustments yet, but the security situation remains unpredictable, and further operational changes from international carriers cannot be ruled out.
The evolving political climate and security risks in Venezuela highlight the broader challenges faced by the airline industry when navigating volatile regions. As airlines prioritize the safety of their crews while adapting to fluctuating demand, operational disruptions are likely to continue, especially in regions affected by instability. As the situation in Venezuela remains fluid, airlines will continue to assess their flight schedules and make the necessary changes to ensure the safety of their staff and passengers.
TAP Air Portugal and Gol Linhas Aéreas have altered their flight routes to Caracas amid growing security concerns in Venezuela, implementing technical stops in safer locations to protect their crews while maintaining essential services to the region.
For travelers, these adjustments may lead to changes in flight availability and schedules, especially to and from Caracas. While the airlines are doing their best to maintain operations, travelers are advised to monitor their bookings and check for any changes in flight routes or times in the coming months. As the security situation in Venezuela remains uncertain, further disruptions to the aviation landscape in the region could be expected.
Triangular Operations to Caracas (CCS)AirlineRoutingSectorDeparture → ArrivalStopover DurationTAP Air PortugalLIS → PTP → CCS → LISLIS → PTP11:50 → 15:351h 15m in PTPPTP → CCS16:50 → 18:25CCS → LIS20:25 → 08:30GOLGRU → MAO → CCS → GRUGRU → MAO17:15 → 20:1540m in MAOMAO → CCS20:55 → 23:40CCS → GRU01:00 → 07:55
Here is the revised table for international airlines serving Caracas (CCS):AirlineDestination(s)Weekly FlightsAviancaBogotá4Copa AirlinesPanama City14GolSão Paulo4IberiaMadrid5LATAMBogotá4Boliviana de AviaciónSanta Cruz de la Sierra2WingoBogotá4Plus UltraMadrid & Tenerife North4 (3 + 1)Turkish AirlinesIstanbul7TAP Air PortugalLisbon2Air EuropaMadrid4
