Venezuela Protest News: Air Canada Suspends Flights to Caracas Over 'Security Concerns'

Canada's national airline, Air Canada, has suspended all flights to and from Venezuela over security concerns. The airline normally operates three return flights between Toronto and Caracas per week: all flights have been suspended until the situation in Venezuela becomes more stable. The news comes as a 29th person was killed in the increasingly violent protests on Sunday. President Nicolas Maduro has warned of sharp retaliation against the airlines.

Air Canada released the following statement: "Due to ongoing civil unrest in Venezuela, Air Canada can no longer ensure the safety of its operation and has suspended flights to Caracas until further notice," sayid the Canadian airline. "The company that leaves the country will not return while we hold power” It also stated that customers who have not yet begun their travel "may obtain refunds." Yet Air Canada is not the first airline to suspend service to Venezuela.

According to the BBC, international airlines claim that Nicolas Maduro's government owes them more than $3 billion: "Tough foreign currency controls make it difficult for foreign airlines to repatriate money obtained from ticket sales in Venezuela." Ecuadorian airline Tame suspended flights to Venezuela in January. Meanwhile, Mr Maduro said that airlines like these would face "severe measures" and insisted that "the company that leaves the country will not return while we hold power."