Venezuela suspends airline over Guaidó flight

Venezuela’s authorities suspended a Portuguese airline on Monday days after it carried opposition leader Juan Guaidó home from an international tour aimed at ousting the country’s president Nicolás Maduro.
After disputing president Maduro‘s 2018 controversial re-election, Guaidó proclaimed himself the country’s interim president, and was backed by almost 60 countries, including the EU, the US and UK.
Guaidó‘s flight to Caracas on TAP Air Portugal ended his visit to Europe and the US. He met with French president Emanuel Macron in France, as well as with US president Donald Trump in Washington.
Venezuelan authorities said the airline’s flights had been suspended for 90 days, after an investigation into “serious violation” of local regulations was opened. Guaidó’s uncle, who travelled with him, was also arrested and accused of trying to bring explosives into the nation.
Venezuela also issued a letter of protest to the French government, saying its ambassador in the country abused his “privileges” and “violated international conventions and customs” when he went to greet Guaidó at the airport.
Under Maduro’s leadership, Venezuela has suffered an economic collapse. More than 4 million citizens have fled the country, many to Colombia.