Venezuela’s main airport partially resumes commercial flights after deadly earthquakes

Venezuela's Simón Bolívar International Airport in La Guaira, approximately 20 kilometers north of Caracas, partially resumed commercial flights on Tuesday, nearly 10 weeks after two powerful earthquakes struck the South American nation. The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes on June 24 caused extensive damage, killing over 6,500 people and leaving around 17,900 homeless.

A temporary metal structure in the airport's parking lot, measuring 10,000 square meters, can accommodate 2,168 passengers daily, offering amenities such as check-in counters, air-conditioned waiting areas, and medical services. Transportation Minister Francisco Garcés expressed hopes to recover 25% of pre-earthquake operations, with further expansion to 40% in a few months and 60% by the end of the year or early next year.

International organizations validated the airport's resumption of operations. Upon initial reopening, seven domestic and four international round-trip flights by Copa Airlines from Panama and Air Europa from Spain will operate. Additional airlines, including Spain's Iberia, are expected to join in the coming days. Prior to the earthquakes, international flights landed at smaller airports in Carabobo and Anzoategui states, situated 168 and 314 kilometers (104 and 195 miles) from Caracas respectively.

These seismic events were the strongest recorded in Venezuela in over a century, occurring just 39 seconds apart near the country's largest population centers along the coastal mountain range, causing significant damage in Caracas and neighboring states.