First Direct US-Venezuela Commercial Flight in Seven Years Lands in Caracas

May 1, 2026

American Airlines resumed direct commercial flights between the United States and Venezuela on Thursday after a seven-year suspension imposed by the Department of Homeland Security over security concerns. Flight AA3599 departed Miami at 10:11am and arrived in Caracas three hours later, marking a diplomatic thaw following the US capture of President Nicolás Maduro in January. The resumption is significant for Miami-Dade County's large Venezuelan community, who have relied on indirect routes through Latin American hubs since 2019. However, direct flights starting at over $1,200 round-trip remain more than twice as expensive as indirect routes via Bogota, which typically cost $390-$900, creating a price barrier for many travelers despite strict US visa requirements already limiting access.

Resumption of Direct US-Venezuela Flights After Seven-Year Suspension

▪Delta and United withdrew from Venezuela in 2017 amid a deepening political crisis.
▪Travellers between the United States and Venezuela used indirect routes through other Latin American hubs for years before direct flights resumed.
▪American Airlines resumed direct commercial flights between the United States and Venezuela after a seven-year suspension.
▪American Airlines announced a second daily flight between Miami and Caracas would start on May 21.
▪Flight AA3599 departed Miami at 10:11am ET on Thursday and arrived in Caracas roughly three hours later.
▪Envoy Air, a regional subsidiary of American Airlines, operated Flight AA3599.
▪American Airlines was the last US carrier operating in Venezuela before suspending flights in 2019.
▪Direct air links between the United States and Venezuela were severed in 2019 when diplomatic ties ended.

Diplomatic Shift Following Maduro's Abduction

▪US Transportation Secretary Sean P Duffy described the flight resumption as a critical milestone in strengthening the United States relationship with Venezuela.
▪Washington conducted an operation in January that led to the abduction of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Celebration and Logistics of the Inaugural Flight

▪Passengers on Flight AA3599 were served coffee and arepas, a traditional Venezuelan dish.
▪Flight AA3599 was operated by an Embraer E175 regional jet with a capacity for about 75 passengers.
▪American Airlines decorated the departure gate at Miami International Airport with Venezuelan flags and balloon displays in yellow, blue and red colours.
▪Flight AA3599 departed five minutes ahead of schedule according to airport data.
▪Miami-Dade County is home to the largest Venezuelan community in the United States.

Accessibility Challenges: High Costs and Visa Requirements

▪Return fares on American Airlines flights between Miami and Caracas for early May start at more than $1,200.
▪Flights between the United States and Venezuela via Bogota typically range from $390 to $900 round-trip.