Credit:  U.S. Department of the Treasury /  U.S. Treasury Pressures Venezuela Maduro Regime by Identifying Blocked National Airline CONVIASA

By Gary Raynaldo         DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

The United States identified the Venezuelan state-owned airline Consorcio Venezolano de Industrias Aeronauticas y Servicios Aereos, S.A. (CONVIASA) as blocked property of the Government of Venezuela pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13884. Conviasa is an airline with its headquarters on the grounds of Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, Venezuela, near Caracas. It is the flag carrier and largest airline of Venezuela, operating services to domestic destinations and to destinations in the Caribbean and South America.  The U.S. Department of the Treasury said Friday’s  action also identifies the CONVIASA fleet of aircraft as blocked property of the Government of Venezuela pursuant to E.O. 13884.  Conviasa and its fleet have been blocked since the issuance of E.O. 13884 of August 5, 2019, and as of Friday have been added to the OFAC’s Specially Designated Nationals List to ensure strengthened compliance with U.S. sanctions. 

“The illegitimate Maduro regime relies on the Venezuelan state-owned airline CONVIASA to shuttle corrupt regime officials around the world to fuel support for its anti-democratic efforts. The Trump Administration will not allow Maduro and his proxies to continue stealing from the Venezuelan people and abusing state-owned assets to advance their own corrupt and destabilizing activities.”

-U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin

Credit: Wikipedia Commons /  A former Conviasa Airbus A340-200

U.S. Treasury Action Does Not Prevent Ability Of Venezuelan People To Travel 

CONVIASA operates as a commercial airline based in Caracas, Venezuela, flying both domestic routes as well as providing service to select international locations.  The U.S. Treasury Department pointed out that  its action does not prevent the ability of the Venezuelan people to travel, as they can continue to travel on various other carriers not subject to OFAC sanctions.  Rather, according to U.S. Treasury,  the action is intended to “curtail the Maduro regime’s misuse of the airline.”   The Treasury Department said the Maduro regime has commandeered CONVIASA’s aircraft to promote its own political agenda, including shuttling regime officials to countries such as North Korea, Cuba, and Iran. 

The following CONVIASA aircraft are blocked property of the Government of Venezuela:

•          YV1003, Make & Model: Viking Air DHC7
•          YV2984, Make & Model: Airbus A319
•          YV1004, Make & Model: Airbus A340
•          YV1008, Make & Model: ATR ATR42
•          YV1009, Make & Model: ATR ATR42
•          YV1005, Make & Model: ATR ATR42
•          YV1850, Make & Model: ATR ATR72
•          YV2421, Make & Model: ATR ATR72
•          YV2422, Make & Model: ATR ATR72
•          YV3434, Make & Model: Boeing B737
•          YV2558, Make & Model: Boeing B737
•          YV2559, Make & Model: Boeing B737
•          YV378T, Make & Model: Boeing B737
•          YV1007, Make & Model: Boeing B737
•          YV2557, Make & Model: Boeing B737
•          YV2556, Make & Model: Boeing B737
•          YV1000, Make & Model: Viking Air DHC7
•          YV3016, Make & Model: Embraer ERJ190
•          YV2966, Make & Model: Embraer ERJ190
•          YV2850, Make & Model: Embraer ERJ190
•          YV2849, Make & Model: Embraer ERJ190
•          YV2851, Make & Model: Embraer ERJ190
•          YV2911, Make & Model: Embraer ERJ190
•          YV2912, Make & Model: Embraer ERJ190
•          YV2913, Make & Model: Embraer ERJ190
•          YV2943, Make & Model: Embraer ERJ190
•          YV2944, Make & Model: Embraer ERJ190
•          YV2953, Make & Model: Embraer ERJ190
•          YV2954, Make & Model: Embraer ERJ190
•          YV2965, Make & Model: Embraer ERJ190
•          YV2964, Make & Model: Embraer ERJ190
•          YV3052, Make & Model: Embraer ERJ190
•          YV3071, Make & Model: Embraer ERJ190
•          YV2969, Make & Model: Cessna 208
•          YV2970, Make & Model: Cessna 208
•          YV2993, Make & Model: Cessna 208
•          YV2994, Make & Model: Cessna 208
•          YV3032, Make & Model: Cessna 208
•          YV3033, Make & Model: Cessna 208
•          YV3034, Make & Model: Cessna 208

SOURCE:  U.S. Treasury Department 

OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of blocked persons.