American Airlines Cleared to Resume Flights to Venezuela
The United States Department of Transportation has approved American Airlines’ request to restart daily nonstop flights from Miami International Airport to Venezuela’s two largest gateways, Caracas Simón Bolívar International Airport and Maracaibo. The approval marks the first step toward restoring direct commercial air service between the United States and Venezuela after a suspension that began in 2019.
The authorization allows American Airlines to operate the routes for a two-year period. The approval came after the US Transportation Security Administration conducted a review of airport security procedures in Venezuela, a required step before commercial flights could resume.
American Airlines had previously operated extensive services between the United States and Venezuela for more than three decades before halting flights when the US government barred commercial air travel between the two countries in 2019 due to political and security concerns. The recent approval opens the door for the airline to restore those links, although the company has not yet confirmed a specific launch date for the flights.
The airline has indicated that its regional subsidiary Envoy Air will operate the services on its behalf. Envoy, which flies under the American Eagle brand, will use Embraer regional jets for the routes between Miami and the Venezuelan cities. The carrier currently operates a large fleet of Embraer E170 and E175 aircraft used primarily on short- and medium-haul routes across North and Latin America.
The potential return of direct flights between Miami and Venezuela is expected to be significant for the large Venezuelan diaspora living in South Florida. Before the suspension of service, Miami was the main US gateway for travel between the two countries, supporting strong demand from business travelers, families, and humanitarian organizations.
Despite the approval, Venezuela continues to hold a Category 2 rating under the Federal Aviation Administration’s International Aviation Safety Assessment program. This classification means the country’s aviation authority does not currently meet certain international safety oversight standards, preventing airlines from expanding services beyond those already authorized.
The FAA safety evaluation is separate from the Department of Transportation’s authorization and the security inspections conducted by the Transportation Security Administration.
American Airlines previously described the potential return of service as an opportunity to reconnect communities and support economic activity between the United States and Venezuela. The airline said the routes could help families reunite and facilitate new commercial and travel opportunities between the two countries.
The resumption of flights would represent the first regular US airline service to Venezuela in more than six years, signaling a gradual reopening of aviation ties after a prolonged diplomatic and aviation freeze.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com