First US-Venezuela commercial flight lands in Caracas after seven-year hiatus
Elizabeth Melimopoulos
The first direct commercial flight between the US and Venezuela in seven years landed in Caracas on April 17, ending a ban imposed by the US Department of Homeland Security. The flight, operated by American Airlines subsidiary Envoy Air, departed from Miami and marks a shift in bilateral relations following the arrest of former President Nicolás Maduro in January.
The first direct commercial flight between the United States and Venezuela landed in Caracas on April 17, ending a seven-year ban imposed by the US Department of Homeland Security over security concerns.
Flight AA3599, operated by Envoy Air, a subsidiary of American Airlines, departed Miami at 10:11 AM Eastern Time (14:11 GMT) and landed in the Venezuelan capital after about three hours. Later that same day, the aircraft was scheduled to return to Florida. American Airlines said it would begin a second Miami-Caracas flight on May 21.
The event came after Washington’s January operation that led to the arrest of former President Nicolás Maduro, reshaping US-Venezuela relations. It is the first direct route between the two countries since diplomatic ties were severed in 2019. Before this, passengers had to transit through hubs in Latin America.
The US State Department posted on social media platform X: “For nearly seven years, there were no direct commercial flights between the US and Venezuela. Under President Trump, today we are changing that. Flights between Miami and Caracas have resumed.”
At Miami International Airport, American Airlines held a small ceremony, decorating the boarding gate with Venezuelan flags and balloons in the country’s yellow, blue, and red colors. Passengers on the flight were served coffee and arepas, a traditional Venezuelan dish. The aircraft was an Embraer E175 regional jet with a capacity of about 75 passengers.
US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said the flight meant more than just the restoration of a route: “Today is not just another flight; it is a significant milestone in strengthening US-Venezuela relations and opening economic opportunities for both nations.” He praised American Airlines and said more flights are expected to be added in coming months.
Despite the upbeat mood, high ticket prices remain a major barrier, along with strict US visa requirements that leave many without the proper documentation to travel. Recent searches on the airline’s website showed round-trip tickets for early May at over $1,200, falling to just over $1,000 by the end of the month. By comparison, connecting flights via Bogotá typically cost between $390 and $900 round trip, with Avianca as the main carrier.
American Airlines was the last US carrier operating in Venezuela before suspending service in 2019, while Delta and United had already pulled out in 2017 amid a deep political crisis that drove millions to leave the country.
Daniella Levine Cava, mayor of Miami-Dade County, said before the flight: “Parents will be reunited with their children, grandparents with their grandchildren, and families with the place they once called home. Miami-Dade is home to the largest Venezuelan community in the United States.”
