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Avianca Cancels Flight for Former Colombian President Gustavo Petro Due to US Economic Sanctions

Avianca canceled flight reservations for former Colombian President Gustavo Petro for a trip from Bogota to Mexico City. The airline explained that the decision was based on mandatory compliance with regulations from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury. Because Avianca maintains permanent operations in the United States and processes transactions through the US banking system, the company must follow international sanctions. The airline noted that Gustavo Petro appeared on the Special Designated Nationals List administered by the OFAC. This status prevents the airline from providing transportation services or conducting transactions for individuals on that list. Avianca stated that the cancellation was not a political decision or a discretionary choice, but a requirement of their global corporate structure. The airline handled the cancellation privately and confidentially, though it chose to publish the explanation to address public comments. The company provided a full refund for the tickets purchased through an Ecuadorian travel agency. The other passengers on the same reservation were not affected by the cancellation.

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