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American Airlines inaugurated direct flights between Miami and Caracas this Thursday, resuming a route that had been suspended for almost seven years, in what the United States Department of State described as another success of President Trump's three-phase plan for Venezuela.
The Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs stated that the flights "represent another success in the implementation of President Trump's three-phase plan for Venezuela, marking a significant step forward in the rapprochement between the United States and Venezuela, strengthening economic ties, expanding travel and trade, and supporting the increase of connections between the peoples."
The inaugural flight AA3599 departed from Miami International Airport at 10:16 a.m. (local time) and landed at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía at 1:36 p.m., with the plane completely full.
The aircraft was operated by Envoy Air, a subsidiary of American Airlines, on an Embraer E175 under the brand American Eagle.
The State Department emphasized the significance of the moment with a straightforward message: "For nearly seven years, there were no direct commercial flights between the U.S. and Venezuela. With President Trump, we are changing that today. Flights between Miami and Caracas have been restored."
John Barrett, Chargé d'Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, described the flights as a "historic milestone" and a sign that Venezuela is "open for business."
The route had been suspended on March 28, 2019 during Trump's first term, as a result of the diplomatic deterioration with Nicolás Maduro's government.
The normalization process accelerated following the capture of Maduro on January 3, 2026 during the "Operation Absolute Resolution," carried out by U.S. special forces at Fort Tiuna in Caracas.
Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where they face charges of narco-terrorism and drug trafficking, with a potential sentence of life imprisonment.
After that milestone, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the three-phase plan: stabilization with control of up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan crude oil, economic recovery with a projected investment of 100 billion dollars, and democratic transition with free elections before the end of 2026.
The U.S. Department of Transportation authorized American Airlines flights in March 2026, and the U.S. Embassy in Caracas officially reopened on March 30, 2026, after seven years of closure.
The envoy John Barrett arrived in Venezuela on April 23 to continue implementing the plan, while the teams of Rubio and opposition leader María Corina Machado —Nobel Peace Prize 2025— were negotiating the details of the democratic transition in Chicago.
Starting from May 1, Laser Airlines will begin daily direct flights from Miami to Caracas in partnership with Global Crossing Airlines, using an Airbus A320 with a capacity for 150 passengers, while American Airlines plans to add a second daily flight on the route starting May 21.
Venezuelan authorities estimated more than 100,000 passengers annually on the Miami-Caracas route, although the initial prices reflect the accumulated demand: round-trip tickets in economy class start at 1,951 dollars, and in business class exceed 5,000 dollars.
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