The U.S. Department of Transportation authorized American Airlines on Wednesday to resume commercial service to Venezuela, positioning the carrier to become the first U.S. airline to fly to the South American country in more than six years.
The clearance advances the Trump administration’s effort to restore aviation ties with Venezuela following the U.S. military operation in January that resulted in the capture of then-President Nicolás Maduro. The State Department still advises Americans not to travel to Venezuela.
American Airlines announced its intent to restore Venezuela service in January, the same day President Trump directed the Department of Transportation to reopen Venezuelan airspace to U.S. commercial carriers — an order that followed the U.S. military operation that resulted in the capture of then-President Nicolás Maduro. The airline said Wednesday it had no details yet on which routes it would schedule or when service would begin.
American Airlines was the last U.S. carrier to operate Venezuelan routes before suspending flights between Miami and Caracas and between Miami and Maracaibo in 2019, a period of sharp deterioration in diplomatic relations between the two countries.
In disclosing its plans in January, American Airlines said restored service would give customers the opportunity to reunite with family and pursue new business opportunities, allowing both Venezuelans and Americans to travel to their home countries as they did before relations soured.
The State Department’s travel advisory for Venezuela remains at its highest warning level, recommending that U.S. citizens not travel to the country despite the administration’s move to reopen commercial airspace.