American Airlines resumes direct flights between U.S. and Venezuela after 7 years

American Airlines has resumed nonstop flights between the United States and Venezuela for the first time in seven years, marking another step in the reopening of travel links.

Flight 3599 departed Miami International Airport at 10:11 a.m. on Thursday, bound for Caracas. American said passengers were welcomed at the gate before the flight, which was operated by Envoy Air, a subsidiary of American Airlines Group.

The route is the first direct service between the United States and Venezuela since flights were suspended in 2019, when U.S. carriers halted operations during a period of deep political instability, security concerns and deteriorating relations between Washington and the government of Nicolás Maduro.

Maduro was captured with his wife during a U.S. operation in Caracas in January and sent to the United States to face federal charges. Delcy Rodríguez has since been acting as president of Venezuela and has been working with the Trump administration.

“American is proud to be the first airline to resume service between Venezuela and the U.S.,” said Nate Gatten, American’s executive vice president of American Eagle. “Our historic return to Venezuela wouldn’t be possible without the efforts of U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the governments of both countries.”

American first began service to Venezuela in 1987 and operated there for more than 30 years before suspending flights in 2019. The airline said the resumed service is part of its broader network between the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean.

A second daily flight between Miami and Caracas is scheduled to begin on May 21, also operated by Envoy Air with Embraer 175 aircraft.