Venezuela authorizes scheduled commercial flights to Portugal | Venezuela
Venezuela has updated the connections to commercial passenger connections, the realization of regular flights with Portugal, a decision that is anticipating in the local Portuguese community and in the travel community.
“On an exceptional basis, only one is authorized as commercial operations for the transport of passengers between Turkey, Mexico, Panama, Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Russia, Spain and Portugal,” the statement said. released this Wednesday by the Venezuelan Civil Aeronautics Institute (INAC).
The document recalls that “continuation of the private operations of the private and executive initiative, part of protecting the health of citizens as the executive of the connections to Venezuela, a pandemic directing the health effects of the citizens of the covid-1.
“We appeal to air travel agents and not commercialized (…) and we recognize those approved in general not to purchase air tickets for routes other than authorized explorers”, the statement.
The decision of the Government of Venezuela surprised on the data and travel agents Luso-Venezuelan that are planned for the renewal of flights.
“This is good news for a long time AP, it remains to be seen if T is really interested in flights right away.for March (…) it remains to be known what the requirements will be in terms of pandemic to travel to Portugal”, also explained a Portuguese businessman to Lusa.
According to José Gonçalves, “the first step has been taken”, but “it is necessary” that “TAP and the diplomatic authorities act, because at this moment it is an opportunity for Portugal and for Europeans to travel to Asia (Turkey) to go to Europe. ”.
Several flight agents praised when the system and what the result of travel flexibility is getting expected.
On January 28 and February 3, the Venezuelan Airlines Association (ALAV) asked the Venezuelan authorities to authorize flights to Portugal, stressing that “it has been demonstrated that air transport is not a vehicle for multiplying the pandemic” of covid – 19.
“There are destinations that are missing for many. Aoor flights to Spain, which authorizes them to reopen to Portugal and also for TAP to fly as well”, said the president of ALAV to journalists.
Humberto Figuera explained that he has help for local authorities that “a policy of aeronautics must be excluded, because air transport brings connectivity, communication and guarantees freedom of communication for citizens”.
On 12 December, the Portuguese ambassador to Caracas, Carlos de Sousa Amaro, complained that Venezuela had not responded to requests for authorization for TAP to carry out humanitarian flights between Caracas and Lisbon, despite having authorized airlines.
In 2020, Portugal repatriated more than 1,200 Portuguese, in five flights, three of them carried out by TAP.
Since 2020, Venezuela has been in preventive lockdown, with a seven-day March of easing followed by seven days of elaborate lockdown. Since November 2021, the quarantine has remained flexible.
On January 3 of this year, Venezuela started the application of the booster dose of the Russian vaccines Sputnik V and the Chinese Sinopharm.
In Venezuela, 499,537 cases of covid-19 are confirmed. There are still 5504 deaths associated with the new coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic.