American Airlines set to resume Venezuela services by end of April
April 10, 2026
American Airlines is the first airline to confirm plans to reconnect Venezuela with the US after a six-year hiatus.
Pending the completion of government approvals and security checks, American Airlines has confirmed it is working closely with regulators to reinstate nonstop services between the US and Venezuela. The carrier first announced it had been cleared to resume services to the country earlier in March.
American Airlines suspended operations to Venezuela in 2019
The airline began operating in Venezuela in 1987, serving as the largest US carrier in the country before suspending operations there in 2019 due to political instability. American Airlines now plans to reinstate daily nonstop service between Miami, Florida, and Caracas, Venezuela, as early as 30 April.
The route will be served by an Embraer 175 aircraft, operated by Envoy Air, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines. Other Embraer 175 aircraft operated by the airline are configured with 72 seats in a 2-2 layout and eight premium seats in a 1-2 configuration. Passenger-friendly amenities include WiFi and in-seat power.
US and Venezuelan governments collaborating closely
Nate Gatten, executive vice president of American Eagle, corporate real estate and government affairs, said he was “encouraged” by the progress made by both the US and Venezuelan governments to restart services.
“We are grateful for the efforts of US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the entire administration to help us reconnect the US with Venezuela. Our return wouldn’t be possible without this strong partnership.”
Why was the service suspended?
Following a US military operation in January 2026 that saw the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, President Trump instructed the US Department of Transportation (DoT) to lift the ban on commercial air traffic to the Latin American country. Signalling a reduction in perceived risk for travel to and from Venezuela, the US DoT has also downgraded its travel advisory for Venezuela from Level 4 – Do Not Travel – to Level 3.
The reintroduction of services is particularly significant for the Venezuelan diaspora in Florida. “American’s Miami hub is the preeminent US gateway to Latin America, and our service to Venezuela is a key part of our history and our future,” said American’s chief commercial officer, Nat Pieper.
“Our commitment to connecting Venezuela with the US spans more than 30 years, and we look forward to the new opportunities for commerce and strengthened ties with family and friends that our service will provide,’ Pieper continued.
There could also be a wider opportunity for business and cargo demand, given Venezuela has significant oil infrastructure and commercial ties with the US.
Airlines that previously served the US-Venezuela link
American Airlines was the last remaining US carrier serving the route before the 2019 suspension. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines had also operated flights to Venezuela but had both exited the market in 2017. Their early departure reflected the deteriorating operating environment, with currency controls, difficulty repatriating revenue, safety concerns, and growing instability all impacting the sustainability of the route.
While American is leading the way by restarting the route, other US carriers may follow suit. United has filed preliminary applications but has not yet announced plans to restart the route. While pent-up demand from the Venezuelan diaspora in Florida is substantial, other US hubs such as New York could follow as secondary markets if American’s reintroduction of the route proves fruitful.
American will also face competition from established European and Latin American operators serving Caracas. Airlines, including LATAM, Turkish Airlines, Air Europa, TAP Portugal, Iberia and GOL began restoring flights to Venezuela earlier this year.
While the cautious choice of a small regional jet to begin with suggests American is hedging its bets on the route, if it stabilises and demand ramps up, it could signal the beginning of a meaningful reopening of Venezuela to international aviation.
Featured image: Katie Chizhevskaya – stock.adobe.com
