Nationals may be stranded in Margarita

Monday’s suspension of the flights followed the 9.50 am crash, that day, of a Conviasa flight from Margarita to Puerto Ordaz in Venezuela.

President of the Trinidad and Tobago Travel Agents Association (TTTAA), Wayne Rodriguez, said: “A lot of Trinidadians fly to Margarita on Conviasa. It’s currently the only airline offering direct flights to the island; two or three times per week. Five or six local travel agents have been calling me today (yesterday) about Conviasa’s suspension but I couldn’t tell them anything other than what was reported in the media.”

Rodriguez said his attempts yesterday to contact the owners of Navarro’s Travel Service; Conviasa’s local agent, were all futile. If any TT national is stranded in Margarita, Rodriguez said, they need to make a report to Conviasa’s Margarita office. “According to industry practices, the airline would then organise return flights for these passengers, at its expense.”

Speaking on the possible reasons behind the CAA suspension of Conviasa flights into TT, Rodriguez said: “Recent incidents with some Latin American airlines including crashes and the fact that aircraft inspections are not as stringent as those in the United States and Europe, are the likely reasons behind the Civil Aviation’s decision. I believe the suspension would remain in place until Conviasa can demonstrate that its aircraft are certified to a particular standard.”

Up to press time yesterday evening, there were 17 confirmed deaths resulting from Monday’s crash. Of the 47 passengers and four crew members, 34 survived.