Direct US-Venezuela flight resumes after seven-year suspension
The inaugural commercial flight between Miami and Caracas arrives following the reopening of the US embassy and the formal restoration of diplomatic ties.
The first direct commercial flight between the United States and Venezuela has landed in Caracas, concluding a seven-year suspension of operations imposed by the US Homeland Security Department. Operated by Envoy Air, a subsidiary of American Airlines, the service connects Miami and Venezuela's capital with a three-hour journey, marking a significant shift in bilateral aviation policy.
This development follows the formal resumption of full diplomatic relations and the reopening of the US embassy in Caracas a month prior. The diplomatic thaw occurred after the capture of President Nicolas Maduro in January, which precipitated the end of the long-standing isolation that had previously defined US-Venezuela relations.
The inaugural flight departed Miami at 10:26 a.m. and arrived in Caracas approximately three hours later. Upon landing, two fire trucks hosed down the aircraft on the tarmac in celebration, while American Airlines staff distributed small Venezuelan flags to passengers at the departure terminal in Miami.
Among the notable passengers was Jarrod Agen, a member of the US National Energy Dominance Council. His presence underscores the policy dimension of the route, as he is scheduled to meet with Venezuelan officials and representatives from the energy and mining industries to facilitate Washington's efforts to re-enter the South American market.
The resumption of direct air service replaces the indirect routes through neighbouring Latin American countries that passengers relied upon for the past seven years. US President Donald Trump had previously announced in late January that commercial airspace over Venezuela would be opened, stating that American citizens would be able to visit the country safely.
Travelers have described the new direct connection as a significant improvement over previous itineraries that required connections in Curaçao, the Dominican Republic, or Bogotá. The flight symbolises the end of Venezuela's years-long isolation by the United States and the restoration of normalised travel between the two nations.
