Humberto Figueras, president of the Venezuelan Airlines Association (ALAV,) hoped negotiations between US and Venezuelan air authorities move forward and prevent a flight ban on US carriers operating in Venezuela scheduled for next March 30th.

Figueras was responding to US and Venezuelan authorities strong stances on this issue, and claimed the flight ban would only harm Venezuelans.

Earlier this week, Francisco Paz Fleitas, president of the Venezuelan Civil Aviation Institute (INAC,) said that even though a team of US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) comes to Venezuela next April 17th to address this issue, the US-Venezuela flights of Delta Airlines, American Airlines and Continental Airlines would be discontinued as of March 30th.

US ambassador William Brownfield on Tuesday said in the event that US carriers are barred in Venezuela, "the US Transportation Department would also suspend the flights of Venezuelan airlines to the United States."

Figueras said airlines are encouraging dialogue and calling upon authorities to find a solution.

On Wednesday, unofficial sources said FAA representatives could visit Venezuela next March 27th, ahead of their scheduled visit on April 17th.