Venezuela bans six major airlines after tensions with US escalate

The affected carriers ceased flying to Venezuela after the US warned of heightened military activity.

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The airlines had temporarily suspended their routes into the capital, Caracas, after the US warned of "heightened military activity" in the area.

Angered by this, the Venezuelan government issued the carriers with an ultimatum that expired on Wednesday. While a number of smaller airlines continue to fly to Venezuela, thousands of passengers have been affected.

The US has deployed a large force to waters off Venezuela, which it says is to combat drug trafficking but which Venezuela's leader has denounced as an attempt to overthrow him.

Venezuela's civil aviation authority, which reports to the country's ministry of transport, announced on Wednesday that Iberia, TAP Portugal, Gol, Latam, Avianca and Turkish Airlines would lose their landing and take-off rights with immediate effect.