The Venezuelan government has barred, until further notice, all commercial passenger and cargo flights to the islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao.

According to the Venezuelan civil aviation authority (Instituto Nacional de Aeronáutica Civil - INAC), the embargo is effective March 8 and comes following a directive from the central government.

According to the ch-aviation routes module, airlines that are affected by the move include Aruba Airlines, Albatros Airlines, Amerijet International (cargo), Avior Airlines, Rutaca Airlines, and Vensecar Internacional (cargo).

Socialist president Nicolas Maduro has repeatedly accused the Netherlands Antilles of aiding and abetting the Venezuelan black market. In January, he accused the islands of harbouring "mafiosi" that "traffick strategic goods into the country".