VENEZUELA. Venezuela’s economic problems have resulted in the number of international airline passengers dropping to between 1,000 and 1,500 a day, a drop of around -67% on levels of a year ago, according to the local airline association president. “About 75% of all international travel was for business and, in the current environment, that segment has cut back tremendously,” Humberto Figuera told Dow Jones Newswires.
Venezuela’s economy is seen contracting about 40% this quarter mostly due to a two-month general strike that began in early December that virtually shut the country’s vital oil industry, among many other sectors.
International travelers are further affected by a halt on foreign exchange purchases the government imposed in January.
