Commercial Passenger Flights from US to Venezuela Restart after Seven-Year Hiatus

International

May 1, 2026

Updated: May 1, 2026

By Truth Media Network

ESSENTIAL POINTS

After a seven-year hiatus, passenger air service from the U.S.⁤ to Venezuela‌ was reinstated on Thursday with a⁢ flight from Miami to Caracas.
The inaugural flight,⁣ facilitated by ⁢American Airlines via Envoy, carried government officials and journalists.
Venezuelan Transport Minister Jacqueline Faria expressed delight⁤ at ‍the resumption of flights, ⁣citing the importance of connectivity.

WASHINGTON — Thursday morning marked the return of passenger air service to Venezuela after a seven-year break, with an American Airlines flight taking off from‍ Miami and landing in Caracas.

American Airlines is set to provide daily service to Venezuela, utilizing an Embraer 175 via Envoy, its fully-owned‍ regional subsidiary. The airline has plans to ⁤introduce‍ a second daily flight from⁢ May 21. The maiden flight, carrying government ⁢officials and ⁣journalists, touched down on Thursday afternoon.

In January, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy lifted a 2019 order⁣ that had prohibited ⁢U.S.⁣ airlines ⁢from flying to Venezuela. This⁣ decision was made following ⁢a directive from President⁢ Donald Trump, and in March, American’s‌ request to resume flights was approved.

‘A boon for our citizens’

“For⁣ Venezuela, welcoming ‌these flights‌ is a ⁤joy as they symbolize connectivity, which translates to development, productivity, and attention to the global community as well⁤ as our own citizens,” stated Venezuela’s Transport Minister Jacqueline Faria. She made these remarks at a reception event at Maiquetia airport ‌near Caracas, just⁣ before the ‍flight’s arrival, where she was joined by U.S. charge d’affaires John Barrett.

Faria also mentioned that Venezuela expects approximately 100,000 passengers annually, or around 7,200⁤ to 8,000 per month, on the reinstated ⁣flights.

“Today is a significant day in the history of U.S.-Venezuela relations. We are ⁤witnessing the restoration of our economic ties, the reintegration of Venezuela into global commerce, and the acknowledgment⁢ of our citizens — the people of both nations,” Barrett said. “Today, we are sending a clear message to the global markets that‌ Venezuela is ready for business once again.”

In March, the Transportation Security Administration visited Caracas to assess airport security measures, a prerequisite for resuming flights. American Airlines announced its intention to restart service just weeks after the military took ⁢control of⁢ the ⁢country’s leader, Nicolas Maduro.

Having commenced operations in Venezuela in 1987, American was the largest U.S. airline in the⁤ country before it suspended its service⁤ in 2019 due to⁤ the ban. The airline stated that the planned daily flights will facilitate business, leisure, and humanitarian travel.

In March, the State Department removed Venezuela from⁢ its “Do Not Travel” list for Americans, replacing it with a less severe “Reconsider Travel” advisory due to⁣ risks of crime, ‌kidnapping, terrorism, and inadequate health infrastructure.

The Essential Points for this article were generated ⁢with the help of ⁢advanced⁢ language models and reviewed ⁤by our editorial team. The⁣ article itself is entirely human-written.