Avianca Is Adding Emergency Flights to Valencia as Venezuela Airport Disruptions Continue After Earthquake


Avianca is temporarily launching new flights to Valencia, Venezuela, as the airline responds to the earthquake emergency that has disrupted air travel into the country.

The carrier has opened bookings for temporary service between Bogotá and Valencia, providing an alternative while operations at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, the country’s primary international gateway serving Caracas, continue to recover following the earthquakes.

The emergency flights are initially scheduled to operate through July 10, although Avianca said the service could be extended depending on how the situation develops.

The temporary operation is intended to help maintain air connectivity between Colombia and Venezuela while supporting rescue and humanitarian efforts during the emergency.

Helping Maintain Air Service During the Emergency

The new route gives travelers another way to reach Venezuela while normal operations at Maiquetía continue to be restored.

At the same time, the flights will carry rescue workers, medical personnel, emergency response teams and humanitarian aid into the country in coordination with several of Avianca’s social impact partners.

Those organizations include the Colombian Red Cross, Ruta Animal, ABACO and the Colombian Civil Air Patrol, all of which are supporting relief efforts following the earthquakes.

“We continue to stand in solidarity with the people of Venezuela and everyone who needs to travel to or from the country,” said Gabriel Oliva, President of Avianca.

“This daily service to Valencia builds on the efforts carried out in coordination with authorities, governments and social impact partners to transport rescue teams and humanitarian aid in support of the emergency response.”

The airline said the operation is designed to serve both humanitarian needs and passengers whose travel plans have been affected by the disruption at Caracas’ primary airport.

Two Daily Flights Between Bogotá and Valencia

The temporary operation includes two daily roundtrip flights between Bogotá and Valencia, operated with Airbus A320 aircraft.

The first departure leaves Bogotá at 7:35 a.m., arriving in Valencia at 10:35 a.m. The return flight departs Valencia at 12:27 p.m., landing back in Bogotá at 1:10 p.m.

A second daily service departs Bogotá at 11:20 p.m., arriving in Valencia at 2:20 a.m. the following day. The return flight leaves Valencia at 4:17 a.m., arriving in Bogotá at 5:00 a.m.

According to the airline, the schedule closely mirrors its normal Bogotá-Caracas service, helping accommodate customers with existing reservations while creating additional capacity during the emergency.

Special Fares for Affected Travelers

To make travel easier during the disruption, Avianca has made the temporary Bogotá-Valencia flights available at special fares.

Tickets can be purchased through avianca.com, the Avianca mobile app, the airline’s contact center and authorized travel agencies.

The airline said the pricing is intended to support passengers who need to travel while normal operations into Caracasremain affected.

Passenger Protection Measures Remain in Effect

Alongside the temporary flights, Avianca is continuing the passenger protection measures it announced for customers holding tickets with travel dates between June 24 and July 15.

Passengers may change their travel dates through Aug. 31 without paying change fees or fare differences, subject to seat availability.

Eligible customers also have the option of changing their itinerary to travel to or from Valencia, Cúcuta or Riohacha at no additional cost, provided seats are available. Those itinerary changes must be arranged through the airline’s contact center.

Customers who decide not to travel may instead request a full refund for any unused portion of their ticket.

Passengers who purchased tickets directly through Avianca can request refunds through the airline’s website, contact center or retail offices. Travelers who booked through a travel agency must process refund requests through the agency that issued the ticket.

Maintaining an Important Air Link

The temporary operation underscores the important role airlines often play during emergencies.

Beyond transporting passengers, commercial airlines frequently become part of broader relief efforts, helping move emergency personnel, humanitarian supplies and essential workers while maintaining critical transportation links.

In this case, Avianca’s temporary service ensures that travel between Colombia and Venezuela can continue while restoration work progresses at Simón Bolívar International Airport.

The additional flights also provide an important alternative for passengers with existing travel plans who may otherwise have faced limited options during the disruption.

A Flexible Operation That Could Continue

While the current schedule is expected to operate through July 10, Avianca said the flights could continue beyond that date if conditions require additional service.

The airline is continuing to monitor the situation and encouraged passengers to follow its official communication channels for updates on schedules, passenger protection policies and any changes to the temporary operation.

As recovery efforts continue following the earthquakes, the additional Bogotá-Valencia flights are expected to play an important role in supporting both humanitarian operations and the continued movement of passengers between Colombiaand Venezuela during a period of significant disruption.



Caribbean Journal Staff

2026-06-28 17:16:00