WILLEMSTAD - All three Dutch airlines serving the Caribbean part of the Kingdom — KLM, TUI, and Corendon — will continue operating flights to Curaçao, Aruba, and Bonaire despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s declaration that Venezuelan airspace should be considered “closed.”
The ABC islands lie just off the coast of Venezuela, raising questions about regional aviation safety after Washington issued multiple alerts about heightened military activity in and around the country.
Airlines Avoid Venezuelan Airspace
A KLM spokesperson confirmed that the president’s statement has no operational impact on its flights.
“KLM has not flown through Venezuelan airspace for more than a week,” the spokesperson said, noting that rerouting may cause longer flight times to several South American destinations, but not to Curaçao, Aruba, or Bonaire.
TUI also states that its aircraft do not use Venezuelan airspace.
“That does not change the fact that we are monitoring the situation closely,” said TUI spokesperson Petra Kok.
Corendon confirmed the same approach. The airline continues to operate its flights to Curaçao and Bonaire but has stopped overflying Venezuela, spokesperson Audrey Denkelaar said.
U.S. Issues Additional Aviation Warning
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had already issued a warning last week to major carriers about a “potentially dangerous situation” when flying near Venezuelan territory due to a deteriorating security climate and increased military activity in the region.
Flights to the Caribbean Remain Unaffected
For now, all scheduled flights between the Netherlands and the ABC islands continue as normal, with airlines emphasizing that safety procedures and alternative flight routes are already in place.
Curaçao, Aruba, and Bonaire remain fully connected by air, despite rising geopolitical tensions just a few dozen kilometers to the south.