For the first time in seven years, American Airlines resumed US passenger flights to Venezuela on April 30, 2026, launching daily Miami-Caracas service after federal officials lifted a 2019 ban on direct commercial air service between the two countries.
The first flight departed Miami International Airport (MIA) for Caracas at 10:11 local time. American is operating the route with an Embraer 175 flown by Envoy Air, its wholly owned regional subsidiary.
The aircraft is the same regional jet that American unveiled at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) on April 29 with a special America250 livery marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. American CEO Robert Isom and US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy attended the unveiling.
American plans to add a second daily flight on May 21, giving the carrier two daily departures between Miami and Caracas.
The restart follows a series of US government approvals that reopened the route. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy lifted the 2019 order in January 2026 after President Donald Trump directed the department to do so. The US Department of Transportation then approved American’s request in March 2026.
The Transportation Security Administration also reviewed airport security procedures in Caracas in March, a required step before US carrier service could resume.
American had served Venezuela since 1987 and was the largest US airline in the country before it suspended flights in 2019. The airline said the restored route will support business, leisure and humanitarian travel.
“American is proud to be the first airline to announce plans to reinstate nonstop service between the United States and Venezuela,” the airline said when it announced the plan in January 2026.
The route also restores a direct link between Venezuela and South Florida, home to a large Venezuelan community and one of American’s most important international gateways.
The 2019 suspension barred US airlines from operating direct passenger and cargo flights between the US and Venezuela. At the time, US officials cited safety and security concerns.
The Department of Homeland Security has since determined that conditions in Venezuela no longer require the continued suspension of direct commercial flights, according to a Federal Register notice published in April 2026. The notice said DHS was re-establishing commercial air transportation while conducting airport assessments for carriers seeking to begin service.
The State Department also eased its Venezuela travel advisory in March 2026, moving the country from “Do Not Travel” to “Reconsider Travel.” The advisory still cites crime, kidnapping, terrorism and poor health infrastructure as risks for US travelers.
