Air TransportAmerican Airlines has received approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation to restart flights between the United States and Venezuela, allowing the carrier to resume service from Miami to Caracas and Maracaibo using aircraft operated by its regional subsidiary Envoy.
The authorization follows a January decision by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to revoke a 2019 order that had prohibited U.S. airlines from flying to Venezuela due to safety and diplomatic concerns.
American Airlines submitted its application to restore the routes on Feb. 13. If implemented, the flights would mark the airline’s return to Venezuela after more than six years without scheduled service.
As part of the process required to reopen the routes, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration recently conducted a visit to Caracas to review airport security procedures. The assessment is one of the steps needed before U.S. carriers can resume commercial operations in destinations previously subject to restrictions.
American began serving Venezuela in 1987 and had been the largest U.S. airline operating in the country prior to the suspension of flights in 2019.
The decision to allow flights again comes amid political developments involving Venezuela. President Donald Trump asked the Transportation Department earlier this year to lift the aviation restrictions following discussions with the country’s acting leadership.
Despite the authorization for flights, the U.S. State Department continues to list Venezuela under its “Do Not Travel” advisory for American citizens. Authorities have also cited concerns related to military activity in the region that could affect the safety of aircraft operations.
