US to permanently close airspace over Venezuela, according to Trump

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: "To all airlines, pilots, drug dealers and human traffickers, please consider the AIR SPACE OVER AND AROUND VENEZUELA COMPLETELY CLOSED."

Last week, the US aviation regulator warned major airlines of a "potentially dangerous situation" when flying over Venezuela due to "the deteriorating security situation and increased military activity in or around the country".

Venezuela has revoked the operating rights of six major international airlines that suspended flights to the country following a warning from the US Federal Aviation Administration.

Recall that Trump's announcement comes less than a month after a direct flight from Caracas, Venezuela, landed in St Petersburg, Russia, for the first time in history, creating a new bi-weekly route.

(reuters, hal)