Panama Cities (AP) – Panama and Venezuela will suspend commercial flights for nearly a year after they leave diplomatic relations.
Venezuela abolished diplomatic representative from Panama in July last year after Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino refused to recognize the re-election of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Mulino said earlier on Thursday that he said at a weekly press conference that he had received a letter from Venezuela but he did not read it immediately. However, Murino did say that resuming flights is in line with Panama’s interest, although he said he also hopes Venezuela agrees to accept Venezuelan immigrants deported from Panama.
On Thursday, some commercial airlines have begun advertising flights between Panama and Venezuela.
Panama Airlines COPA announced flights will resume and said its team is working to confirm the itinerary. Venezuela will start promoting flights on Friday.
Earlier this week, Venezuela said that more than 30 arrests had been arrested by Venezuela, who allegedly planned the country ahead of Sunday's legislative elections to destabilize the country.
Panama was one of the first Latin American countries to demand the results of the presidential election from Venezuelan authorities last July, after the country's election authorities declared Maduro the winner.
