Conviasa

History

Conviasa (Consorcio Venezolano de Industrias Aeronáuticas y Servicios Aéreos) was created by presidential decree signed by Hugo Chávez on 31 March 2004 as Venezuela's new state flag carrier, filling the void left by the 2001 collapse of the former flag carrier Viasa, and began commercial flights that December. Majority-owned by the Venezuelan state, the airline has often opened routes for diplomatic and political reasons as much as commercial ones, serving allied governments across the Americas, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Russia. Its history has been marked by repeated crises, including the fatal 2010 crash of a domestic flight, a 2012-2013 European Union operating ban, a wave of pilot departures around 2016, and a 2017 suspension of some international routes amid Venezuela's broader economic collapse.

Current Operations

Conviasa has been designated on the U.S. Treasury's Specially Designated Nationals list since 7 February 2020 over its role supporting the Nicolás Maduro government, a sanctions regime that has severely restricted its access to spare parts, maintenance and financing; only a fraction of its roughly two-dozen-aircraft fleet, including a single Airbus A340-600 and about five Embraer E190s, remains airworthy, with the rest grounded. In June 2026 the U.S. Treasury issued General License 59, permitting aircraft maintenance, repair and airworthiness-related transactions with Conviasa, a narrow easing that followed the January 2026 removal of Maduro from power by the United States, but broader sanctions on Conviasa and the Venezuelan government remained in force as of mid-2026. The airline continues to operate a reduced network from its hub at Simón Bolívar International Airport near Caracas, serving domestic destinations plus select international routes, and is not a member of any global alliance.

Last verified 2026-09-02· Source: airline public disclosures, company press releases & aviation-industry reporting.

Serves These Profiled Airports4