AA Cancels All Flights to and from Venezuela

After the State Department told U.S. citizens to leave the country the American’s pilot union earlier on Friday asked its members to refuse any trips to the country. It is also known to pull its diplomats from Venezuela.

All flights to and from Venezuela has been suspended amid unrest which will further isolate the South American country. The political and economic turmoil in Venezuela caused most U.S. airlines to already halt their services.

The last major airline to fly to Venezuela was American, it also sold flights from Miami to Caracas and to Maracaibo.

This move will be further isolating the South American nation that is reeling under the humanitarian crisis.

The airline mentioned in a statement that the safety and security of their team members and customers was always number one and the airlines will not be operating to countries they did not consider to be safe.

After Washington recognized opposition leader Juan Guiado as the country’s president the Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had cut ties. So far, more than 50 other countries have recognized Guiado as the country’s president.

The State Department warned not to travel to Venezuela due to crime, civil unrest, poor health infrastructure and arbitrary arrest and detention of the U.S. citizens.

The  Allied Pilots Association, which represents about 15,000 American Airlines pilots, said in a note to its members late Thursday that until further notice, if you anyone is scheduled, assigned, or reassigned a pairing into Venezuela, refuse the assignment.

The airlines was however not available for comment, on Friday the airline’s two flights from Miami to Caracas were cancelled. But on the airline’s website the flight scheduled for Saturday was flashed.

The pilot union’s decision was fully supported by the Association of Professional Flight Attendants.