American Airlines has officially moved to restore its commercial flights between the United States and Venezuela, a step that could bring an end to nearly seven years of halted direct air traffic between the two nations.
The airline has applied to the Department of Transportation (DOT) for permission to resume regular services from Miami to Caracas and Maracaibo, as outlined in documents the company filed this past Friday.
This request was submitted via Envoy Air, a regional subsidiary of American Airlines, which would initially operate the service once formal approval is granted.
Although no specific date has been set, this would mark the first flight after nearly seven years of disruptions since 2019.
"Granting this request would further President Trump's goal of reopening air services to Venezuela and serve the public interest by providing opportunities for business, leisure, and humanitarian travel to the region," states the document accessed by EFE.
The airline highlighted that it was the largest U.S. carrier operating in Venezuela before flights were suspended in 2019 due to safety concerns. American Airlines had been flying to Venezuela since 1987.
Previously, the airline had authorization to operate routes from Florida, home to the largest Venezuelan community in the United States.
In its application, the company projected that its flights "will not face energy or environmental issues" and does not anticipate "difficulty in obtaining fuel" for the Miami-Caracas or Miami-Maracaibo routes, emphasizing the technical feasibility of reinstating these services.
The request to the DOT follows a January 29 order lifting the 2019 ban on commercial and cargo flights between the United States and Venezuela, a decision aimed at restoring air connectivity between the two countries after years of tensions and restrictions.
At that time, the company indicated that the flights would offer opportunities for business trips, tourism, and humanitarian missions amid a period of economic reopening and gradual normalization of relations between Washington and Caracas.
The move comes as signs of normalization emerge following the capture of Maduro, and in a context of rapprochement between Washington and Caracas after a period of heightened tensions.
President Trump has noted that the United States maintains "a very good relationship" with Venezuela's designated president, Delcy Rodríguez, and has celebrated that "oil is beginning to flow" between the two countries following years of sanctions and restrictions.
Trump even announced on Friday that he plans to visit Venezuela, without specifying a date or confirming details of the potential trip.
These statements place the potential resumption of flights within a broader effort of commercial and diplomatic normalization.
While American Airlines' request is still pending final approval and security assessments by U.S. authorities, it represents a concrete step toward reviving air connectivity between Miami, a major hub for international traffic in southern Florida, and two of Venezuela's most important cities: the capital Caracas and Maracaibo in the west of the country.
The restoration of these direct flights has been eagerly awaited by the numerous Venezuelan diaspora residing in the United States, particularly in Florida, who have had to rely on indirect connections or layover routes to travel between the two countries for years.
Reestablishing Miami-Venezuela Flight Connections
Why did American Airlines suspend flights to Venezuela in 2019?
American Airlines suspended its flights to Venezuela in 2019 due to safety concerns, which led to a halt in operations between the two countries.
What routes is American Airlines planning to resume?
The airline plans to resume flights from Miami to Caracas and Maracaibo, two key cities in Venezuela.
What are the anticipated benefits of resuming these flights?
Resuming flights would provide opportunities for business, leisure, and humanitarian travel, while also fostering economic and diplomatic normalization between the United States and Venezuela.