Venezuela's Minister of Transport, Francisco Garcês, announced that the Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía is expected to "partially resume operations within about two months" after damage caused by recent earthquakes.
The minister also revealed that 189 structures have been completely collapsed in the state of La Guaira, with an additional 11 in different parts of the country. Garcês explained that this figure only includes buildings that have lost total stability and collapsed, with another 200 to 300 structures undergoing technical evaluation.
Regarding the Simón Bolívar International Airport, the minister clarified that the structural damage is repairable, although some infrastructure and equipment remain inoperable. Maiquetía airport handles over 70% of Venezuela's international air links. With the suspension of commercial operations, some flights are being rerouted to the airports of Barcelona and Valencia.
Two simultaneous plans are underway: one for a transitional operation and another for the progressive recovery of the infrastructure. The expectation is that Maiquetía can begin receiving passengers partially in approximately two months, with full recovery potentially extending into early next year.
