Venezuela’s main airport resumes operations months after quakes
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP)—Venezuela’s main airport near Caracas on Tuesday said it was resuming operations after sustaining damage in the powerful earthquakes that struck over two months ago.
A flight operated by Venezuelan airline Conviasa to Mexico took off at 10 am (1400 GMT), read a statement from Simon Bolivar International Airport.
Another flight operated by Global Crossing arrived at around 10:30 am, an airport official told AFP.
The airport is located in the coastal state of La Guaira, which was shattered by the June 24 quakes that killed over 6,500 people.
The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude tremors damaged its main runway, and although it has received humanitarian planes throughout the disaster response, it has remained closed to commercial flights until now.
Runways were “fully operational,” announced Transport Minister Francisco Garces, adding that “all safety measures (are) in place.”
Air traffic had been redirected to other, smaller airports around the country, and the United States temporarily provided technical and logistical support following the disaster.
Cargo flights to Simon Bolivar resumed on August 5.
