American Airlines operated its first direct commercial flight between Miami and Caracas in almost seven years this Thursday, marking a milestone in air relations between the United States and Venezuela after a disruption that forced thousands of passengers to travel through third countries.
Flight AA3599, operated by the subsidiary Envoy Air on an Embraer E175 under the American Eagle brand, took off from Miami International Airport at 10:16 a.m. heading to Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, with an approximate duration of three hours, reported EFE.
The departure ceremony in Miami turned into a celebration: passengers with Venezuelan flags, arepas and tequeños, and the presence of Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava celebrated the moment before takeoff.
The aircraft used features a commemorative livery marking the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States (1776-2026), with registration number N341MB, and it was greeted with a water arc on the runway as it departed.
The State Department celebrated the fact on social media with a direct message: "For nearly seven years, there were no direct commercial flights between the U.S. and Venezuela. With President Trump, we're changing that today. Flights between Miami and Caracas are restored."
Direct flights were suspended on March 28, 2019, when American Airlines —the only major U.S. airline operating in Venezuela— ceased its operations amid the deterioration of diplomatic relations between Washington and Nicolás Maduro's government during Trump's first term.
The catalyst for change was the capture of Maduro on January 3, 2026 by U.S. special forces during the so-called "Operation Absolute Resolution," after which Delcy Rodríguez took on the role of acting president.
The rapprochement between Washington and Caracas was swift: on January 29, Trump ordered the lifting of the air ban following a direct phone conversation with Rodríguez, who confirmed this direct contact with the president days later.
On March 4, the Department of Transportation approved the Envoy Air routes with a waiver valid until March 4, 2028, which also includes the Miami-Maracaibo route.
On April 1, the United States removed Delcy Rodríguez from the OFAC sanctions list, consolidating the new diplomatic landscape.
Nat Pieper, commercial director of American Airlines, emphasized the strategic importance of the route: "American Airlines' operations hub in Miami is the primary gateway from the United States to Latin America, and our service to Venezuela is a fundamental part of our history and our future."
Round-trip tickets in economy class start at approximately $1,951, while business class exceeds $5,000.
Furthermore, another airline resumes direct flights Miami-Caracas: Laser Airlines, in partnership with Global Crossing Airlines, will begin its own direct flights tomorrow on an Airbus A320 with a capacity of 150 passengers, highlighting the huge demand that has built up over seven years.
American Airlines plans to add a second daily flight on the route starting from May 21, 2026, consolidating a connection that the airline operated continuously from 1987 until its forced suspension in 2019.
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