MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Venezuela's main airport reopens with temporary modules two months after the earthquake

Airlines that have resumed operations or will do so this week include Iberia, Copa, Avianca, Latam, American Airlines, Gol, Air Europa and Plus Ultra, alongside Venezuela's Conviasa and Laser.

Simón Bolívar international airport, located in Maiquetía and Venezuela's principal air gateway, resumed domestic and international operations on Tuesday, two months after the double earthquake of June 24 destroyed its facilities.

The reopening does not mean a return to the original terminal. Passengers are being handled in four temporary shed-type modules, air-conditioned and erected near the car park, with boarding by bus. Transport Minister Francisco Garcés said those facilities are operating at 70% of capacity and that international standards of passenger service have been maintained. Authorities say check-in, baggage, security, immigration, boarding, connectivity, toilets and catering services are all functioning.

Eight flights were scheduled on the first day, four domestic and four international. The first covered the Maiquetía-Valera route. The runway had to be reconditioned after cracking severely during the earthquake. Deputy Citizen Security Minister Endes Palencia reported the deployment of some 600 security personnel at the terminal.

The airport's closure deepened the country's isolation during the emergency. Maiquetía handles not only international flights: almost all domestic routes stop over there, so its shutdown forced travellers to use the considerably smaller airports of Barcelona, Valencia and Maracaibo to travel within or outside the country.

Airlines that have resumed operations or will do so this week include Iberia, Copa, Avianca, Latam, American Airlines, Gol, Air Europa and Plus Ultra, alongside Venezuela's Conviasa and Laser.

Full reconstruction of the terminal remains pending and its timeline has slipped. It was initially indicated it could be completed by the end of this year; current estimates point to the first quarter of 2027.

The double earthquake of June 24 left 6,301 dead and more than 16,000 injured, according to the official assessment as of August 10. A total of 12,411 homes remain under habitability restrictions and 9,567 have been classified as high risk and are due for demolition. In August, torrential rain over Caracas destroyed several of the camps housing families who lost their homes in the earthquake.