Blue Panorama Airlines (Rome Fiumicino) has terminated a wet-lease contract with Conviasa (V0, Caracas Simón Bolivar) after the Venezuelans failed to settle outstanding debts. The La Patilla online journal reports the Italian carrier's decision to axe the agreement came into effect on July 16 resulting in over 200 passengers on Conviasa's flight V0 3012 from Madrid Barajas to Caracas Simón Bolivar being left stranded. A further 250 passengers on the following flight were also affected.
As a result, Conviasa has indefinitely cancelled all future services to Madrid and Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini pending a new ACMI operator as its A340-200 is still stored at Bordeaux Mérignac following maintenance and reportedly also cannot be put back into operation until maintenance bills have been settled.
Delays in accessing funds have been blamed on the South American country's National Centre for Foreign Trade (Centro Nacional de Comercio Exterior - CENCOEX) which regulates the disbursements of foreign currency.