politics
March 6, 2026
American Airlines to Resume Direct Flights USA-Venezuela for the First Time Since 2019
American Airlines received authorization from the United States Government to resume direct flights between Miami and the Venezuelan cities of Caracas and Maracaibo, routes suspended since 2019 due to the political and security crisis in the South American country.
TL;DR
- American Airlines received U.S. Government authorization to resume direct flights to Venezuela.
- Flights between Miami and Caracas/Maracaibo were suspended in 2019 due to the political and security crisis in Venezuela.
- This makes American Airlines the first U.S. airline to return to Venezuelan airports in almost seven years.
- Envoy Air, a subsidiary of American Airlines, obtained a two-year exemption to operate the flights.
- The resumption of flights is seen as advancing President Trump's goal of reopening air service to Venezuela.
- American Airlines was the largest U.S. airline flying to and from Venezuela since 1987 until the interruption in 2019.
- The airline anticipates no fuel or environmental issues for the routes.
- The flights will reconnect Venezuela with Miami, which is home to the largest Venezuelan diaspora in the U.S.
- Washington and Caracas have improved relations since a military operation on January 3.