American Airlines has become the first U.S. carrier to receive government clearance for resuming flights to Venezuela. The airline plans to restore service that was suspended in 2019 when diplomatic relations between the countries deteriorated.
American Airlines has received federal clearance on Wednesday to become the first United States carrier to restart flight operations to Venezuela.
The carrier declared its plans to reestablish Venezuelan service in January, coinciding with President Donald Trump’s directive to the Transportation Department to reopen commercial aviation routes to the South American nation following a U.S. military operation that removed former President Nicolás Maduro from power.
Despite ongoing State Department advisories discouraging American citizens from traveling to Venezuela, federal authorities have granted American Airlines permission to begin planning flight schedules to the country.
American Airlines held the distinction of being the final U.S. carrier operating Venezuelan routes when it halted service in 2019, ending flights connecting Miami to both Caracas, the nation’s capital, and Maracaibo, a major petroleum industry center. Company representatives stated that specific details regarding which routes will be reestablished between the United States and Venezuela have not yet been determined.
This development could enable both Venezuelan and American travelers to once again enjoy tourism exchanges between the nations, similar to the regular travel patterns that existed before bilateral relations deteriorated in 2019. When the carrier initially revealed this strategy in January, officials noted it would provide passengers opportunities to reconnect with relatives and explore new commercial ventures.