Avior Airlines of Venezuela has been barred from European Union after a commission has determined that Avior no longer meets international safety standards.
This verdict gives another blow to the tourism of Venezuela.
The European Commission announced that Avior Airlines had been added to a list of international airlines prohibited from flying within the union because the European Aviation Safety Agency detected unaddressed safety deficiencies.
Avior Airlines of Venezuela is one of a handful which is still offering the international flight destinations as major carriers like United Airlines and Delta Airlines halt operations in the crisis-ridden nation.
The air carriers have cited the financial and safety concerns as reasons for suspending service.
It happened after an Avior flight made an emergency landing in Ecuador earlier this month after passengers described seeing fire and smelling smoke.
At that time, the videos posted on social media showed the nervous passengers wearing deployed oxygen masks. Avior Airlines operates flights within Venezuela, throughout Latin America and to Miami, Florida, and lists an office location in Madrid on its website.
Avior Airlines of Venezuela is certified under United States federal aviation regulations and Venezuela remains in good standing with the International Aviation Safety Assessment, the Federal Aviation Administration’s program to decide whether the foreign countries provide sufficient safety and oversight of airlines that fly to the United States.
Venezuela has grown increasingly isolated for its strategically downward situation as an expanding list of airlines cancel service amid low customer demand and financial distress.
The head of the International Air Transport Association has said that Venezuela owes $3.8 billion to several international airlines, a debt it is unexpected to repay anytime soon.
