The first direct commercial flight between the United States and Venezuela in seven years landed in Caracas on Thursday, April 30, 2026, restoring nonstop air service that had been suspended since 2019.
Flight AA3599, operated by Envoy Air, a subsidiary of American Airlines, departed Miami International Airport at 10:16 a.m. local time and arrived at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia around three hours later, returning to Florida later in the afternoon. The flight was operated using an Embraer 175 dual-class aircraft. American Airlines said it is the first U.S. carrier to relaunch daily service to the South American country.
The resumption comes after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security ordered an indefinite suspension of direct flights in 2019, citing security concerns. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy lifted that order in January 2026 after President Donald Trump directed him to do so, and the Transportation Department approved American’s request for flights in March 2026.
The return of direct service follows major diplomatic shifts. It comes months after the U.S. capture of then President Nicolás Maduro in a nighttime raid on his residence in Caracas in early January 2026. It also comes a month after the U.S. formally reopened its embassy in Caracas following the restoration of full diplomatic relations with Venezuela. In late January, President Trump said he informed Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez that he would open up all commercial airspace over Venezuela, allowing Americans to visit. “American citizens will be very shortly able to go to Venezuela, and they’ll be safe there,” Trump said at the time.
American Airlines staff handed passengers small Venezuelan flags before departure, while balloons in the country’s national colors — yellow, blue and red — decorated the boarding gate at Miami. Music was playing and free food, including the country’s staple dish of arepas, was offered. Onboard, around two-thirds of the seats were taken due to weight restrictions and were largely filled with journalists and officials.
“I’m very excited to go and see the family and I’m looking forward to see the country,” said passenger Lennart Ochoa of Miami shortly before boarding. He said that he was “ready to go” and got his ticket as soon as they were available. “Just to go and see the family on a direct flight from Miami to Caracas is priceless.”
At Simon Bolivar International Airport, about 16 miles west of Caracas, a saxophonist played “Theme from New York, New York.” Ricardo Mariani told CNN that he is traveling on the afternoon American Airlines flight back to Miami to attend his daughter’s graduation in Florida and to get his vision checked. “It is a big opportunity for the country, for all of us,” Mariani said. “Before it could take an entire day flying from layover to layover.” The Venezuelan said the flight layovers were risky due to a condition impacting his vision. “I had been waiting for this flight for years,” he added.
The director of the U.S. National Energy Dominance Council, Jarrod Agen, was among the passengers on the inaugural flight. Agen is scheduled to meet with Venezuelan officials and executives from energy and mining sectors as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to facilitate the entry of U.S. companies into the South American country, reported Venezuelan government sources.
American Airlines said it plans to add a second daily flight between Miami and Caracas starting May 21, 2026. The airline started operating in Venezuela in 1987 and was the largest U.S. airline in the country before suspending service in 2019. The planned service will be operated using Embraer 175 aircraft with a capacity of 82 passengers.
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration was in Caracas last week to review airport security procedures, sources told Reuters, a step needed to resume flights. For the past seven years, passengers have relied on international airlines and indirect routes through neighboring Latin American countries such as Panama City, Bogotá, and Medellin.
In January, when the airline announced the resumption of flights it said it would give customers the opportunity to reunite with families and pursue new business opportunities. “We have a more than 30-year history connecting Venezolanos to the U.S., and we are ready to renew that incredible relationship,” said Nat Pieper, American’s Chief Commercial Officer. “By restarting service to Venezuela, American will offer customers the opportunity to reunite with families and create new business and commerce with the United States.”
Some 1.2 million Venezuelans live in the United States, and the thaw is expected to increase the U.S. business presence in the South American nation, which has the world’s largest proven gas reserves.
