Giuseppe Yofreda, president of the Venezuelan Civilian Aviation Authority, Thursday justified a move to close down customs in private airports nationwide, thus preventing them to operate as international terminals.

The official claimed the decision was made amid a campaign to rearrange the domestic civil aviation sector, and ensured that this move will not affect aviation or trade activities in the country.

According to Yofreda, private airports were not meeting the standards to operate as international airports.

Yofreda claimed that the move is to help strengthen the Venezuelan aviation sector and achieve an organized development, so that international authorities no longer rate the country negatively.

Customs in private airports will be closed temporarily, while they are granted a certification and improve their conditions to operate as international terminals.