The United States has issued a security advisory for aircraft operating in the Maiquetía Flight Information Region (SVZM FIR) due to a potentially hazardous situation and heightened military activity in and around Venezuela.
The advisory said operators are advised to exercise caution at all altitudes, including during overflights, arrivals, departures, and while on the ground at airports.
Maiquetía is a coastal city in Venezuela, located in Vargas state. Simón Bolívar International Airport is located in the city, which serves as a major transportation hub.
It sits on a small plateau near the Caribbean Sea, about 37 kilometres southeast of Caracas, the capital city.
Since September 2025, civil aircraft transiting the SVZM FIR have reported interference with Global Navigation Satellite Systems, which can affect communication, navigation, surveillance, and safety equipment up to 250 nautical miles away. Some flights experienced lingering effects throughout their journeys.
A senior aviation source explained the broader context, saying, “The whole world, the global airspace is divided into flight information regions, and aircraft fly where they provide navigation services.
“Airlines are also allowed to fly over the sovereign airspace of another country because of the international air transit agreement. But in this case, because of the hostilities between the Venezuelans and the US, the FAA advisory is only telling US carriers to exercise caution.”
The source added, “This is not a ban. The US government is advising its commercial carriers because Venezuela perceives the US as an adversary due to the flotilla of ships and aircraft carriers in the region. The FAA is asking US operators to provide 72 hours’ advance notice of planned flights and report any safety or security incidents observed in the affected airspace.”
Venezuela has also conducted multiple military exercises and mobilised thousands of military and reserve forces as the US increases its military presence in the region.
