The Air Europa planes on this route, with five weekly frequencies, were 100% sold out, and many customers who purchased and paid for their tickets will request refunds, while others will wait to fly when possible, explained during the reopening of a group hotel in the Dominican Republic.
The possibility of transporting passengers affected by the suspension of operations in Venezuela through Cartagena, Colombia, was considered but dismissed because it involves two days of bus travel, it was added.
Additionally, due to the halt of its flights to Caracas, Air Europa has another plane grounded in Madrid, for which it is incurring costs, but it cannot utilize it for the Madrid-New York route, operated with a leased aircraft (A350) from Iberojet, as “there is a contract that must be fulfilled,” it was explained.
However, since the airline increases its frequencies on many routes during Christmas, it can make use of these planes on standby, which also provides room for maneuver in case of any issues, as, according to Hidalgo, “there is a significant difference in quality” between the company’s planes and contracted planes.
Air Europa suspended its operations to Caracas on November 24 and will keep them canceled, for now, until December 19, depending on the situation’s evolution in the Venezuelan capital and the southern Caribbean, due to the tense situation in the region.
Besides Air Europa, other airlines like Iberia, Plus Ultra (Spain), and TAP continue to suspend their operations and do not have flight concessions in Venezuela as ordered by the country’s National Institute of Civil Aeronautics (INAC).
Hidalgo explained that Air Europa had a flight plan ready to avoid leaving its crews in Caracas to prevent any danger, “but ultimately it was the State Aviation Safety Agency (AESA) that advised us not to operate.”
The plan was to carry out the route, with reinforced crew, from Madrid to Caracas to Las Palmas and exchange crews in Las Palmas, flying back to Madrid with a different crew, it was specified.
Regarding the revocation of the license by Venezuela, it is not a concern for Hidalgo because he believes that as soon as the situation normalizes, it will be returned the next day.
