The US Transportation Department has approved American Airlines to resume flights to Venezuela for the first time since a 2019 ban. The decision follows a January order from President Donald Trump after a US military raid removed Nicolás Maduro from power. Despite the approval, the State Department maintains a 'Do Not Travel' advisory for the country.
The US Transportation Department announced on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, that it has approved American Airlines' request to operate flights from Miami to Caracas and Maracaibo in Venezuela. These services will be provided through the airline's regional carrier, Envoy, marking the first US flights to the country in more than six years.
The approval comes after a 2019 order barred US airlines from flying to Venezuela, which Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy rescinded in January. President Donald Trump directed the department to lift the restrictions following a US military raid that ousted then-President Nicolás Maduro. American Airlines applied for the resumption on February 13, stating in its filing that the move would support the administration's goals in the Caribbean.
"Approval of this application will further President Trump’s goal of reopening air service to Venezuela and serve the public interest by providing an opportunity for business, leisure, and humanitarian travel to the region," the airline said. It noted that it began operating in Venezuela in 1987 and was the largest US carrier there before the 2019 suspension. The order is valid for two years.
American Airlines was the last US airline flying to Venezuela before suspending routes from Miami to Caracas and the oil hub of Maracaibo in 2019, amid deteriorating diplomatic relations. The resumption could enable family reunions and new business opportunities between the US and Venezuela, as the airline has indicated. However, the State Department continues to warn Americans against travel to Venezuela due to safety concerns, including military operations near the country that have raised issues about aircraft security.
Details on the specific flight schedules were not immediately available.