The US reopened direct flights to Venezuela after 7 years

The American Airlines flight departed from Miami International Airport in the US state of Florida at 10:26 a.m. today (9:26 p.m. Hanoi time), according to AFP. The plane is expected to land at Simon Bolivar Airport in Venezuela’s capital Caracas after more than 3 hours, before returning to Florida late the same afternoon.

This is the first direct flight between the US and Venezuela since 2019, when the US Department of Homeland Security ordered an indefinite suspension of the route citing security concerns.

Passengers on the flight were mainly officials and journalists, including high-ranking US officials who came to Caracas to meet Venezuelan government representatives.

Representatives of the city of Miami and Venezuelan Ambassador to the US Felix Plasencia were present at the gate to welcome passengers on the special flight. American Airlines staff distributed small Venezuelan flags to passengers, while the onboard menu included typical dishes from the country such as corn pancakes and chicken salad.

“I’m very excited to visit my family and look forward to coming to this country. Just being able to visit my family on a direct flight from Miami to Caracas is priceless,” passenger Lennart Ochoa said just before boarding the plane, saying he bought his ticket as soon as he could.

The US airline previously said it would start its next flight between Miami and Caracas from May 21.

The resumption of direct commercial flights between the two countries is seen as a sign of thawing relations, after the US arrested Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a surprise raid in January. The US also reopened its embassy in Caracas last month, after fully restoring diplomatic relations with Venezuela.

US President Donald Trump said at the end of January that he had informed interim President Delcy Rodriguez that he would open all of Venezuela’s commercial airspace. “American citizens will soon be able to go to Venezuela and be safe there,” he said.