Portugal warns Venezuela that it will not yield to threats after revoking TAP’s flight concession

The Portuguese government warned Venezuela this Thursday that it will not yield to threats after President Nicolás Maduro’s government revoked yesterday the flight concession to TAP, which is 100% owned by the Portuguese State, and to other airlines such as Iberia, Avianca, Latam Colomia, Gol and Turkish Airlines. The Portuguese Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, Miguel Pinto Luz, pointed out on his X account that his government “does not yield to threats, ultimatums, or pressures of any kind”. “Our action is guided exclusively by the higher national interest and the unwavering defense of the security of the Portuguese in any part of the world,” he said.

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He added that in civil aviation, as well as in all strategic areas, his country respects international rules, the best safety practices and coordination with aeronautical authorities, which guarantees the protection of passengers, crews and airlines. “Portugal is a free, sovereign and responsible country – he underlined-. We will always act with serenity, firmness and a sense of State, protecting our citizens, defending our institutions and affirming, without hesitation, the dignity of the country.” Venezuela revoked on Wednesday the flight concession to TAP and the rest of the airlines after accusing them of “joining the actions of terrorism” of the State promoted by the U.S. and canceling their flights “unilaterally” to and from the Latin American country. The decision came after the Maduro government gave a 48-hour deadline, which expired on Wednesday at noon (16:00 GMT), for airlines to resume their operations in Venezuela after having suspended them. Airlines took that step after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration urged commercial airlines on Friday to “exercise extreme caution” when flying over Venezuela and the southern Caribbean due to what it considers “a potentially dangerous situation in the region.” TAP announced on Saturday that it had decided to cancel a flight scheduled for that day and another last Tuesday bound for Venezuela after receiving a notice from US aeronautical authorities that security conditions were not guaranteed in that country.