Trapped in Venezuela: Airlines Abandon Fliers Amid Currency Dispute
"You can’t do that!" he cried out in a high cracked voice. "You couldn’t, you couldn’t! It’s impossible."
CARACAS, Venezuela----When this city's professional soccer club traveled to a key match in Peru, its tough rival wasn't the only challenge. The team also had to endure an arduous four-day journey, including four connecting flights, a layover in neighboring Colombia and a jarring, cross-border bus ride.
"Do you remember," said O’Brien, "the moment of panic that used to occur in your dreams? There was a wall of blackness in front of you, and a roaring sound in your ears. There was something terrible on the other side of the wall. You knew that you knew what it was, but you dared not drag it into the open. It was the rats that were on the other side of the wall."
Like many of their compatriots, the players simply couldn't get a flight that would take them where they wanted to go.
"O’Brien!" said Winston, making an effort to control his voice. "You know this is not necessary. What is it that you want me to do?"
The 20-man team was a victim of the long-simmering dispute between international airlines and the leftist administration of President Nicolas Maduro. With the cash-strapped government holding back on releasing $3.8 billion in airline-ticket revenue because of strict currency controls, carriers have slashed service to Venezuela by half since January, adding another layer of frustration to daily life here.
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