- Title: Chaos ensues at Caracas airport after Avianca suspends service
- Date: 27th July 2017
- Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (JULY 27, 2017) (REUTERS) STRANDED PASSENGERS STANDING IN FRONT OF AVIANCA COUNTER STRANDED PASSENGERS SHOUTING THAT THEY WILL NOT MOVE FROM AREA AVIANCA EMPLOYEE STANDING NEXT TO NATIONAL POLICE OFFICER TRYING TO GIVE STRANDED PASSENGERS INSTRUCTIONS STRANDED PASSENGERS STANDING AROUND AREA OF AVIANCA COUNTER (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) STRANDED PASSENGER RICARDO RANGEL SAYING: "They told me to go home and they would call me during the week to let me know if they are able to put me on another airline. How do I handle this? I am from Maracay (western Venezuela) and I am stuck." NATIONAL POLICE OFFICER SHOUTING ORDER TO ANGRY STRANDED PASSENGERS GENERAL VIEW OF STRANDED PASSENGERS STANDING AT ENTRANCE TO AVIANCA CHECK IN AREA ANGRY PASSENGERS SHOUTING AT AVIANCA EMPLOYEE, NATIONAL POLICE OFFICER STANDING BY GENERAL VIEW OF ANGRY STRANDED PASSENGERS REFUSING TO LEAVE AREA
- Embargoed: 10th August 2017 21:30
- Keywords: Venezuela stranded passengers Avianca flights airport chaos
- Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- City: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- Country: Venezuela
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Civil Unrest
- Reuters ID: LVA0016RHVJ9F
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Hundreds of stranded passengers gathered at Caracas international airport on Thursday (July 27) awaiting information regarding their flights on Avianca after the airline announced it would be suspending service to and from Venezuela.
On Wednesday Avianca said it would suspend flights amid operational and security difficulties, the latest commercial carrier to pull out of the crisis-hit socialist country.
The Colombian flagship carrier is the latest airline to leave the country, further isolating Venezuelans amid widespread unrest and protests. Companies have cited everything from payment disputes to safety concerns. United cancelled its services to the country in June. Lufthansa and Air Canada have also pulled out.
"Avianca will examine this decision after it learns the results of technical work conducted by authorities of both countries to resolve these operational and security impediments," the statement said.
The decision followed a meeting in Bogota with aviation authorities, the company said, adding it has informed both the Colombian and Venezuelan governments. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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