US fines Copa Airlines for violating flight ban to Venezuela
The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) imposed a fine of $ 450,000 on the Panamanian airline Copa Airlines, for violating an order through which air service between the United States and Venezuela is suspended, according to a document issued on Wednesday 17 June.
DOT explains that through Order 2019-5-5, which went into effect on May 15, 2019, US and foreign airlines are prohibited from transporting passengers between the United States and Venezuela; and that said order was issued due to conditions that threaten the safety of passengers, planes and crew traveling to or from Venezuela.
It indicates in a statement that through an investigation carried out by the DOT Aviation Consumer Protection Office, it was confirmed that Compañía Panameña de Aviación, SA (Copa) illegally transported passengers between the US and Venezuela through a stopover point.
It details that according to the investigation, for almost a month after the 2019 DOT order was issued, Copa sold more than 5,000 tickets for air travel between the United States and Venezuela, and transported more than 15,000 passengers on these itineraries.
It emphasizes that by transporting passengers between the United States and Venezuela, Copa violated the conditions of its authority to operate and participated in passenger operations to and from the United States without proper authorization from DOT.
In addition to the $450,000 fine, Copa was ordered to cease and desist from future similar violations; and Copa's economic license authority to operate flights to and from the United States is conditioned on not transporting passengers or cargo to or from any airport in Venezuela.
It indicates in a statement that through an investigation carried out by the DOT Aviation Consumer Protection Office, it was confirmed that Compañía Panameña de Aviación, SA (Copa) illegally transported passengers between the US and Venezuela through a stopover point.
It details that according to the investigation, for almost a month after the 2019 DOT order was issued, Copa sold more than 5,000 tickets for air travel between the United States and Venezuela, and transported more than 15,000 passengers on these itineraries.
It emphasizes that by transporting passengers between the United States and Venezuela, Copa violated the conditions of its authority to operate and participated in passenger operations to and from the United States without proper authorization from DOT.
In addition to the $450,000 fine, Copa was ordered to cease and desist from future similar violations; and Copa's economic license authority to operate flights to and from the United States is conditioned on not transporting passengers or cargo to or from any airport in Venezuela.