Direct commercial flights between the United States and Venezuela have resumed after a seven-year hiatus, during which the connection had been suspended over security concerns.
An American Airlines flight was the first to land in Caracas from Miami on 30 April, after a smooth three-hour journey that had been cleared by the US Department of Homeland Security. This development comes as US President Donald Trump seeks to rebuild relations with Venezuela.
U.S. passenger air service to #Venezuela resumed on April 30 after seven years, with an American Airlines flight from Miami to Caracas restoring daily operations. The airline plans to introduce a second daily flight starting May 21. The inaugural flight carried government… pic.twitter.com/jmqeagEZI7
— DD India (@DDIndialive) May 1, 2026
In a significant move, Trump administration officials were aboard that inaugural flight. Jarrod Agen, of the National Energy Dominance Council, led the US delegation, while Venezuela’s newly appointed ambassador to the US, Félix Plasencia, was also on board.
Flight AA3599, operated by Envoy Air, a regional subsidiary of American Airlines, returned to Florida later that day. Daily flights are set to resume from 21 May.
This follows a high-profile US operation in January that led to the arrest of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife. They are facing drug trafficking charges in the United States and have pleaded not guilty.
The operation has sparked controversy and divided opinion internationally. Many welcomed Maduro’s removal after years of authoritarian rule that drove an estimated seven million people to flee the country and left the economy in ruins. Others have condemned it as unlawful interference in a sovereign nation.
¡Bienvenidos de nuevo a Caracas, @AmericanAirlines! Gracias al liderazgo de @POTUS y a la implementación contínua de su plan de tres fases para Venezuela, hoy se reanudaron los vuelos comerciales directos de pasajeros entre los Estados Unidos y Venezuela. Otro paso histórico… pic.twitter.com/EGR3u6gyzj
— Embajada de los EE.UU. en Caracas (@usembassyve) April 30, 2026
The US State Department wrote on X that “for nearly seven years, there were no direct commercial flights between the United States and Venezuela. Under President Trump, we are changing that today. Flights between Miami and Caracas have resumed”.
A small ceremony was held at Miami International Airport ahead of departure, with flags and balloons in the colours of Venezuela decorating the gate. Onboard, passengers were served coffee and arepas, a traditional Venezuelan dish made of maize dough and typically filled with cheese, meat or beans.
A direct flight from the US to Venezuela takes off from Miami this morning—the first since 2019.
— Vera Bergengruen (@VeraMBergen) April 30, 2026
In true Miami fashion, it’s a party at the gate. US and Venezuelan officials are touting this flight as a symbol of normalized relations between the two countries post-Maduro pic.twitter.com/8EkRWE7swM
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called the resumption “more than just another flight” and “a critical milestone” in strengthening ties and unleashing economic opportunity in both countries”.
Since Maduro’s removal, Washington has encouraged investment by rolling back sanctions. The Trump administration has urged Venezuela’s new government, led by acting president Delcy Rodríguez, to introduce reforms to attract investors.
President Trump has led the way for a HISTORIC flight from America to Venezuela – and this is just the beginning of future prosperity between the two nations 🇺🇸🇻🇪
— U.S. Department of Transportation (@USDOT) May 1, 2026
USDOT Undersecretary Ryan McCormack said it best: “The free flow of travel is key to reforging longstanding and deep… pic.twitter.com/4s6d8GXQmK
Agen told CBS News that the US is exploring agreements with PDVSA and mining opportunities. Venezuela holds significant reserves of gold, iron ore, bauxite, coltan and industrial diamonds.
While Chevron maintained operations even during the Maduro years, HKN Energy and Hunt Energy are among the first to re-enter the market.
However, not everyone is convinced that the pace of change is balanced. “The economic opening in Venezuela is like a bullet train. The democratic process is on a chicken cart,” former US official Juan Gonzalez told CBS News.
Cumpliendo con el plan de tres fases de @POTUS y @SecRubio. Hoy di la bienvenida nuevamente en Caracas a Jarrod Agen, Director Ejecutivo del Consejo Nacional de Dominio Energético de @WhiteHouse, para la firma de acuerdos energéticos que promueven la recuperación económica de… pic.twitter.com/c7cvvsP8Ah
— Embajada de los EE.UU. en Caracas (@usembassyve) May 1, 2026
Despite the celebratory mood, ticket prices remain high, and US visa requirements could limit access for many Venezuelans following years of economic collapse and hyperinflation. Return fares for early May started at over $1,200, compared to between $390 and $900 via Bogotá.
Venezuela’s average monthly salary is among the lowest in the world, with most estimates placing it well below $200.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava welcomed the return of flights, saying they would allow “parents to reconnect with children, grandparents with grandchildren, and families with the place they once called home”.
American Airlines was the last US airline to operate in Venezuela before suspending flights in 2019; Delta Air Lines and United Airlines withdrew amid a deepening political crisis in 2017.
