Panama-Venezuela Flights Resume After Year-Long Suspension

Commercial flights between Panama and Venezuela are set to resume nearly a year after they were suspended due to political tensions, according to an announcement from the Civil Aviation Authority of Panama on May 22, 2025. The reactivation comes after Venezuela halted all air travel to and from Panama on July 31, 2024, following civil unrest triggered by the country’s presidential election held on July 28. The Venezuelan government implemented the flight ban in response to what it viewed as foreign interference and criticism over the disputed election outcome.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Panama confirmed that the resumption of flights will proceed “under the principle of reciprocity,” and added that operations will be based on the technical capabilities of each country’s airlines. While the Venezuelan government has yet to issue an official statement regarding the restart, the Executive President of the Association of Venezuelan Airlines (ALAV), Marisela De Loaiza, indicated that carriers with existing permits can resume operations as soon as their schedules allow.

Signs of the resumption became clear when several airlines began promoting services on May 22. Panama-based Copa Airlines announced its intention to restart flights, stating that scheduling efforts were underway. Venezuelan carrier Venezolana Airlines also began advertising flights, with the first one scheduled to depart on May 23, 2025.

The reopening of this key route marks an important development in regional connectivity, particularly for travelers and families affected by the disruption over the past year. It also follows the broader easing of restrictions, including the resumption of deportation flights for undocumented Venezuelan migrants through Honduras earlier in March 2025, as Venezuela’s government began repatriating citizens from the U.S.

The return of commercial air service is expected to boost economic, diplomatic, and family ties between the two nations, signaling a gradual thaw in strained relations.

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