US suspends passenger and cargo flights to Venezuela

The US banned all air transport with Venezuela Wednesday over security concerns, further isolating the troubled South American nation by severing one of its last links to the world’s largest economy. The Department of Homeland Security said it decided to immediately suspend all commercial and cargo flights between the US and Venezuela because the country’s political crisis threatened the safety of passengers, aircraft and crew. The decision will be a heavy blow for millions of Venezuelans who rely on donations or remittances from relatives abroad to survive, as the country’s crumbling economy has destroyed most of its industry and agriculture and slashed govt imports. Many have relied on airline courier services from Miami to obtain scarce medication, spare parts and food. <br/>