Regular passenger flights between the United States and Venezuela resumed on April 30 after a seven-year suspension that began in 2019 due to security concerns and strained diplomatic relations.
American Airlines operated the first service, with Flight AA3599 departing Miami International Airport at 10:16 a.m. local time and landing at Maiquetia International Airport near Caracas three hours later. The flight, operated by American Airlines subsidiary Envoy Air, used an Embraer 175 aircraft configured for 76 passengers in two classes: 12 in business and 64 in economy.
The airline plans daily flights initially, providing 532 weekly seats in each direction, with a second daily frequency starting May 21 on the Miami-Caracas route. At its peak, American Airlines operated around 10 daily flights to Venezuela from cities including Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, New York, and San Juan.
The resumption follows the January capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by US forces and subsequent easing of aviation restrictions. In late January, President Donald Trump announced the reopening of US commercial airspace over Venezuela after discussions with acting President Delcy Rodriguez. The US Department of Transportation rescinded its 2019 suspension order, and the US embassy in Caracas reopened last month.
Venezuelan carriers remain barred from US routes due to their FAA Category 2 safety rating. Laser Airlines plans to launch Miami services from Caracas in May using GlobalX Airbus A320-200 aircraft.