Return of direct flights between the U.S. and Venezuela after almost seven years
After a years-long interruption that in 2019 effectively severed direct air links between Venezuela and the United States, the return of regular commercial flights is being announced. American Airlines, the last U.S. carrier that maintained routes to Venezuela before the suspension, said it plans to restore nonstop service and introduce a daily operation, but only after final approvals by the competent authorities and security assessments. The announcement comes as Washington opens commercial airspace over Venezuela, while U.S. institutions at the same time maintain the highest levels of travel security warnings for that country.
For travelers and the business sector, this is a change that could shorten journeys, reduce the number of connections, and bring back some of the traffic that for years moved through third countries. However, almost every element of this return comes with conditions: from regulatory decisions that must formally remove obstacles imposed in 2019, through checks of airport security standards, to the broader diplomatic and migration context that still burdens travel between the two countries.
Opening the airspace: a political decision and regulatory steps
According to an Associated Press report, U.S. President Donald Trump on January 29, 2026, said he informed Venezuelan leader Delcy Rodríguez that the U.S. would open commercial airspace over Venezuela and that he ordered the U.S. Department of Transportation and military leaders to take steps to enable this by the end of the day. The same report states that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) then announced it was rescinding four Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs) for the region, assessing that those measures had been introduced as precautions and were no longer necessary.
The FAA further summarized that message in its official “general statements,” noting that “safety remains our highest priority” and that the agency “looks forward to facilitating the return of regular travel between the U.S. and Venezuela.” In practical terms, this means one important obstacle to flight planning has been removed, but it does not mean that all administrative barriers have already been resolved. In such situations, air service depends not only on overflight permission, but also on formal decisions regarding carriers’ rights to provide service on a given route at all.
Why the interruption lasted so long: the 2019 suspension and the security assessment
The reason direct flights disappeared from the market in 2019 was officially security-related. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) then announced it had concluded that “conditions in Venezuela threaten the safety and security of passengers, aircraft, and crew” and that the public interest required the urgent suspension of all commercial passenger and cargo flights between the two countries. Based on that assessment, the U.S. Department of Transportation issued an order on May 15, 2019, suspending air services, and the explanations stated the decision was made with the concurrence of the State Department and in coordination with DHS.
An additional layer of the story is visible in documents from that period: DOT’s order and accompanying explanations mention reports of civil unrest near airports, as well as the circumstance that the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) did not have access to the necessary assessments of security standards at Venezuelan airports. In the same period, the FAA—according to DOT’s 2019 release—also issued a special notice to pilots that, for most U.S. operators, restricted flying over Venezuelan territory below a certain altitude, also for security reasons.
American Airlines: announcement of a return, but no date and with “security assessments”
In its official statement, American Airlines emphasizes it is ready to restore nonstop service to Venezuela, with a plan for “daily” service, but it clearly states that the return is contingent on “government approval” and security assessments. The company notes it has operated in Venezuela since 1987 and that before the 2019 interruption it was the largest U.S. carrier in the country. In a statement by Chief Commercial Officer Nate Pieper, American Airlines says it wants to restore a link that for decades connected Venezuelans with the U.S., and that it sees the restoration as an opportunity to reunite families and strengthen business ties.
Associated Press in its report notes that American Airlines in 2019 suspended flights between Miami and Caracas, as well as between Miami and Maracaibo. These cities have traditionally been key points due to the strong Venezuelan community in South Florida and business flows tied to the energy sector. Still, the company for now is not publishing exact routes, aircraft types, start dates, or schedules, instead saying it will share “additional details” in the coming months, once the necessary permits and security assessments are finalized.
For travelers, that translates to: the return is politically and regulatorily “unlocked,” but operationally not yet confirmed. In aviation, such returns often happen in phases: first the formal bans and warnings are addressed, then on-the-ground security reviews follow, agreements on ground services, alignment of aircraft protection protocols on the ground, and crew planning. Delays can occur at each of these steps.
Travel warnings and on-the-ground reality: “Do Not Travel” and embassy alerts
Although opening the airspace is a strong political signal, the U.S. Department of State for now is not changing its risk assessment for travelers. In the official travel advisory, reissued on December 3, 2025 without changes, Venezuela remains designated Level 4 – “Do Not Travel.” The document cites risks of arbitrary detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure.
Additional weight to that assessment comes from a security alert posted on January 10, 2026 on the U.S. mission’s website, emphasizing that the “security situation is fluid,” repeating the call not to travel to Venezuela, and advising U.S. citizens that, if they are there, they should leave the country as soon as possible. Such messages do not apply only to tourists; they also affect business travelers, humanitarian organizations, and the airlines themselves, because they set the level of risk that must be built into plans.
In that context, the key difference is between “it is permitted to fly” and “it is safe to travel.” The FAA’s rescission of certain NOTAMs means an obstacle stemming from airspace assessments and regional tensions has been removed, but passengers and crews still have to rely on actual security conditions at airports and in the country. That is precisely why American Airlines repeats the phrase “security assessments” in all communications as a condition without which there is no return.
Diplomacy and consular services: mission returning to Caracas, but limited capacities
The return of flights is unfolding in parallel with attempts to restore diplomatic channels. Associated Press reports that the U.S. administration in January notified Congress of first steps toward a possible reopening of the closed embassy in Caracas, including sending temporary staff to perform “selected” diplomatic functions. The Los Angeles Times then reported on February 1, 2026 that U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Laura Dogu arrived in Caracas to work on reestablishing the diplomatic mission after years of severed relations.
For travelers’ day-to-day life, the consular dimension is often just as important as the plane ticket itself. In years without a diplomatic presence, procedures related to visas, travel documents, and emergency assistance were often shifted outside Venezuela, requiring travel to third countries and additional costs. The current steps toward a returning mission open space for the gradual restoration of consular services, but from the available information it is not entirely clear what scope of services will immediately be available and how long it will take for the system to stabilize.
Visas, bonds, and migration unknowns: flights alone do not remove barriers
For many travelers, the biggest practical barrier is not the flight schedule but the status of travel documents and visas. On the official U.S. mission visa pages, it is stated that as of January 21, 2026, Venezuelan nationals who are otherwise eligible for a tourist or business visa (B1/B2) may be required to post a bond of up to $15,000, as decided by the consular officer during the interview. In practice, such an instrument is used as a measure to reduce the risk of overstaying, but it can also function as a serious financial barrier, especially in the context of an economy that has long faced crises and a declining standard of living.
Another layer of complexity is the migration status of a large number of Venezuelans already living in the U.S. The U.S. agency USCIS on its official TPS page for Venezuela states that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem decided that Venezuela no longer meets the conditions for one of the TPS designations, and that the Supreme Court on October 3, 2025 allowed that decision to “take effect immediately.” However, Associated Press reported in late January 2026 on a federal appeals court decision that found the TPS termination decision was made unlawfully, noting that its practical effect remains complex due to further proceedings and earlier Supreme Court actions that allowed administrative measures to move forward temporarily.
Such legal and political uncertainty directly affects families split between the two countries. Direct flights can make travel easier for those with proper documentation, but they do not change the fact that some people still lack a stable migration framework, while others face high costs and limited availability of consular appointments. That is why the social dimension resonates strongly in the latest announcements about flight returns: the question of who can travel at all, and under what conditions.
Economic and social effects: diaspora, business ties, and humanitarian corridors
If direct routes are indeed restored on a regular basis, the biggest beneficiaries will be the Venezuelan diaspora in the U.S. and families who for years traveled via connections. For them, each additional segment means more time, a higher risk of missed connections, and extra costs. In that sense, the possible return of routes between Miami and Caracas, mentioned in media reports about earlier routes, could have a strong social impact in communities demographically tied to South Florida.
On the business side, the return of flights can be a signal of normalization that spills over into trade, logistics, and investment. The Washington Post reported that alongside decisions on airspace and political contacts there are also indications of changes in the sanctions regime toward Venezuela’s oil sector and U.S. companies’ interest in new activity. In practice, if such a trend continues, air traffic becomes infrastructure that enables faster movement of managers, technical teams, and equipment, but it also increases pressure on airport infrastructure and security capacities.
In its announcement, American Airlines explicitly mentions “humanitarian” travel as well. International organizations dealing with health, food, and crisis response have operated in Venezuela for years, and easier access can speed staff rotations and equipment delivery. But the same rule applies here too: humanitarian work depends on permits, security, and operational capabilities on the ground, not only on the existence of a flight on paper.
What comes next after February 2, 2026: scenarios and expectations
In the coming weeks, two parallel processes will be crucial. The first is regulatory: formally clarifying and removing obstacles arising from the 2019 suspension, which includes coordination among multiple U.S. institutions and security bodies. The second is operational: carrying out or completing security assessments at airports, securing ground support, aligning protocols, and determining crew and aircraft schedules.
Because of this, travelers are advised to be cautious in planning. The announcement of a return and the political signal of opening the airspace do not automatically mean the start of ticket sales nor a guarantee of quickly establishing a stable flight schedule. Based on available information, a more realistic scenario is a gradual return of flights under strict conditions and continuous security assessments, while migration and consular issues will continue to shape how much travel truly “normalizes.” For Venezuela and the U.S., restoring direct flights can become a visible symbol of a new chapter, but only if it is accompanied by real changes in security, administration, and the accessibility of travel for ordinary people.
Sources:- American Airlines – official announcement of plans to restore daily service to Venezuela ( link )
- Associated Press – report on the decision to reopen commercial airspace, the FAA’s decision to rescind NOTAMs, and a reminder of routes and the 2019 suspension ( link )
- FAA – official statements on rescinding NOTAMs and emphasizing safety ( link )
- DHS – notice of flight suspension on May 15, 2019 for security reasons ( link )
- U.S. Department of Transportation – release on the order suspending air service between the U.S. and Venezuela (May 15, 2019) ( link )
- U.S. Department of Transportation / FAA – text of Order 2019-5-5 (PDF) ( link )
- U.S. Department of State – travel advisory for Venezuela (Level 4: Do Not Travel, December 3, 2025) ( link )
- U.S. Embassy (Venezuela) – information on visas and the B1/B2 bond as of January 21, 2026 ( link )
- U.S. Embassy – security alert: “Do Not Travel to Venezuela; Depart Immediately” (January 10, 2026) ( link )
- USCIS – official TPS page for Venezuela (status and DHS decisions) ( link )
- Associated Press – report on court proceedings and disputes over ending TPS ( link )
- Los Angeles Times – arrival of the U.S. chargé d’affaires in Caracas and steps toward restoring the diplomatic mission (February 1, 2026) ( link )
- Congressional Research Service – context of the 2019 flight suspension and the broader framework of aviation security ( link )
- The Washington Post – analysis of the political and security context and indications of policy changes toward Venezuela ( link )
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