US Department of the Treasury Eases Sanctions on Conviasa, Grants Approval for E190 Fleet Maintenance
In a significant development, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has announced the relaxation of sanctions on Conviasa (V0, Caracas Simón Bolivar), marking a pivotal moment for the state-owned Venezuelan carrier. The move involves the issuance of General Licence 45A under the Venezuela Sanctions Regulations, granting specific authorizations for essential transactions related to the maintenance and ferry flights of Conviasa’s Embraer jets.
Under the new authorization, Conviasa is permitted to engage in transactions deemed “ordinarily incident and necessary to the general maintenance (including repair)” of its fleet, comprising fifteen E190s and one Lineage 1000. This allowance by OFAC extends beyond mere maintenance, encompassing the facilitation of “non-commercial (i.e. not-for-profit) flights between non-US jurisdictions in the Western Hemisphere and Venezuela of the blocked aircraft.”
An additional facet of the eased sanctions involves the operation of migrant repatriation flights. Since October 18, 2023, Conviasa has been conducting these flights from the US back to Venezuela under an inter-governmental agreement, thanks to the authorization provided by General Licence 45A.
It’s important to note that these transactions are subject to specific conditions. The authorizations exclude individuals explicitly designated by US authorities, ensuring that the eased sanctions do not inadvertently benefit restricted parties. Furthermore, Conviasa’s five A340s, which receive partial maintenance support from Mahan Air (W5, Tehran Mehrabad), and its single ATR42-400 are not included in the authorization.
This significant development not only provides Conviasa with greater flexibility in maintaining its Embraer fleet but also opens avenues for specific non-commercial flights, reinforcing a positive step towards diplomatic and operational normalization between the US and Venezuela.