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American Airlines will resume non-stop flights to Venezuela after the US Department of Transportation (DOT) approved the operator’s request on Wednesday, making it the first US airline to restore service between the two countries since 2019.
The airline told FOX Business that the flights will be operated by Envoy, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines, which has non-stop service from Miami to Caracas and Maracaibo, Venezuela.
The approval follows President Donald Trump’s January order to reopen commercial airspace over Venezuela after the Federal Aviation Administration issued an emergency order barring US aircraft from the country’s airspace. Transport Secretary Sean Duffy later revoked the order at the behest of the president.
Trump asked the DOT to lift the restrictions after a conversation with Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez.
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American Airlines will resume nonstop service between Miami and Venezuela after the US Department of Transportation approved an executive order on March 4, 2026, marking the first time an American airline has reinstated flights to the country. (Kevin Carter / Getty Images / Getty Images)
The Transportation Security Administration was in Caracas last week reviewing airport security procedures, a necessary step to resume flights, sources told Reuters.
The airline announced in late January that it intended to reconnect with Venezuela, weeks after the US carried out strikes in the country and kidnapped dictator Nicolás Maduro.
“We have more than 30 years of history connecting Venezuelans with the US, and we are ready to renew that wonderful relationship,” said Nat Pieper, America’s Chief Commercial Officer, in a statement at the time. “By restarting service to Venezuela, American will give customers the opportunity to reunite with families and create new business and trade with the United States.”
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The US Department of Transportation has approved American Airlines’ request to operate flights to Caracas and Maracaibo, Venezuela, following the removal of the age limit for US carriers. (DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images)
American began operating in Venezuela in 1987 and was the largest American airline in the country before it suspended all flight operations in 2019.
The DOT said the order is in effect for two years.
An American Airlines passenger plane is parked at the gate of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on August 24, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia. (DANIEL SLIM/AFP/Getty Images)
In December, the State Department added Venezuela to its “Do Not Travel” advisory list, which remains in effect.
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FOX Business has reached out to the Department of Transportation and the State Department for comment.
FOX Business’ Daniella Genovese and Reuters contributed to this report.
