Venezuela has taken a significant step in air connectivity: the Instituto Nacional de Aeronáutica Civil (INAC) has granted Fifth Freedom of the Air rights to Turkish Airlines to operate and sell the Caracas (CCS) – Lima (LIM) leg as part of its intercontinental route from Istanbul.
The authorization was delivered on June 24, 2026 by Venezuelan Transport Minister Jacqueline Faría to Turkey's Ambassador in Caracas, Aydan Karamanoğlu, and Turkish Airlines representatives, during a bilateral meeting focused on expanding cooperation between both nations.
What is the Fifth Freedom of the Air?
The Fifth Freedom of the Air is one of the commercial rights of international air transport. It allows an airline to carry passengers, cargo, and mail between two foreign countries, provided the flight originates or ends in the country where the airline is registered.
In practical terms: Turkish Airlines, based in Turkey, will be able to board and disembark passengers in Caracas bound for Lima (and vice versa), within its Istanbul→Caracas→Lima itinerary. Without this permission, passengers boarding in Caracas could only disembark at the final destination outside Venezuela — not at the intermediate stop.
What it means for travelers
Once the route begins operating, Venezuelan travelers will have access to:
- Direct Caracas–Lima flights operated by Turkish Airlines, without layovers in Europe or the US.
- Connections via Istanbul to more than 340 destinations in over 130 countries served by Turkish Airlines, including Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania.
- A new operator on the Venezuela–Peru corridor, potentially creating more competition and options for passengers.
Important: as of the date of this article, INAC and Turkish Airlines have formalized the authorization, but no start date for operations on the Caracas–Lima leg has been announced yet. The authorization is the necessary prior step before flights begin to be sold.
Turkish Airlines already flies to Caracas
Turkish Airlines is not new to Venezuela. The airline resumed its direct Istanbul–Caracas flights on March 3, 2026, with three weekly frequencies operated on Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft (flight numbers TK223/TK224). This reactivation already connects Venezuela to the Istanbul hub — and the Fifth Freedom now extends that network to Lima.
The strategic context
Minister Faría stated that this authorization strengthens the country's international connectivity, fosters commercial exchange, and integrates Venezuela with new markets in the region. The move is part of Venezuela's push to reinvigorate its aviation sector: the country reached 679 weekly flights in 2026, reflecting a sustained recovery of its international connectivity after years of contraction.
Turkish Airlines, for its part, operates to more than 340 destinations in over 130 countries and is already present in several Latin American cities including Bogotá, Lima, Buenos Aires, and São Paulo — making Istanbul an increasingly relevant hub for Latin American travelers seeking connections to Europe, Asia, or the Gulf.
Traveling from Venezuela or heading to Lima?
At CAMF Travel we track new route developments and open bookings as soon as availability is confirmed. If you're interested in connecting Caracas–Lima or exploring connections via Istanbul, message us on WhatsApp and we'll let you know as soon as the route is operational.