Following the recommendation by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to commercial flights to"exercise extreme caution" when flying over Venezuela and the southern Caribbean, given what it considers"a potentially dangerous situation in the region," the Civil Aeronautics Authority issued a statement reassuring travelers.

“You can rest assured. We are adjusting routes and procedures to ensure all flights remain safe,” the agency said, hours after the warning from U.S. authorities.

This recommendation issued by the U.S. coincides with Washington's large military deployment in the area to pressure the government of Nicolás Maduro.

The FAA issued a statement warning of a potentially dangerous situation in the Maiquetía flight information region, which corresponds to airspace controlled by Venezuela, which also includes parts of the southern and eastern Caribbean.

“Operators are advised to exercise extreme caution when operating in the Maiquetía flight information region at all altitudes due to the deteriorating security situation and increased military activity in or around Venezuela,” the text explains.

“The threats could pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes, including during overflight, arrival and departure phases,” the document adds, which considers that the risk also affects airports and aircraft on the ground in the aforementioned region.

The FAA's warning comes after the USS Gerald Ford, the largest and most sophisticated US aircraft carrier, arrived in the southern Caribbean last week to join the large military deployment that the Pentagon has maintained in the region since the summer.

Washington maintains that the contingent seeks to combat drug trafficking and asserts that the Maduro government, which it considers the illegitimate president of Venezuela, is an integral part of drug trafficking in the region.

As part of this operation, the U.S. has destroyed nearly twenty boats apparently loaded with drugs in both the Caribbean and the Pacific, causing the death of at least 83 of their occupants.

What Aerocivil says

Regarding this notice, the Colombian Civil Aeronautics Authority asked airlines flying in Colombia to urgently submit an analysis of the direct implications of this measure on their air routes and current operations.

He also requested that they present alternate routes and formal confirmation that the 72-hour advance notice period required by the FAA for any changes to the affected schedules will be respected.