American Airlines returns to Venezuela after seven-year break

Flight 3599 departed Miami International Airport at 10:11 a.m. on April 30, bound for Caracas, marking the airline’s long-awaited return to Venezuela after suspending services in 2019.

The inaugural service was operated by Envoy Air using an Embraer 175 regional jet. The aircraft received a traditional water cannon salute before departure.

American said to feel proud to resume scheduled passenger service to Venezuela, reconnecting one of the most important markets in Latin America with South Florida. The carrier first launched flights to Venezuela in 1987 and spent more than three decades as the leading U.S. airline serving the country.

Nate Gatten, American’s Executive Vice President of American Eagle, Corporate Real Estate and Government Affairs, called the relaunch a “historic return” and credited U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and both governments for helping restore the route.

He said Miami remains the cornerstone of American’s Latin America strategy, helping the airline maintain its position as the largest U.S. carrier between the United States and Latin America and the Caribbean.

The restored Miami–Caracas route will initially operate daily, with a second daily frequency scheduled to launch from May 21 due to strong demand. Both services will be flown by Envoy-operated E175 aircraft, offering dual-class cabins and complimentary Wi-Fi sponsored by AT&T.

American Airlines in monopoly on USA-Venezuela air connection
With two daily flights, travellers will gain improved flexibility and easier one-stop connections to more than 85 destinations across American’s Miami hub, including Orlando, Houston or New York. For Venezuelan travellers, the new flights will also help reduce reliance on longer connecting itineraries through Panama City, Bogotá and other regional hubs.

The service resumption follows the lifting of the 2019 U.S. flight ban earlier this year after security reviews at Caracas airport and updated travel guidance from U.S. authorities. Venezuela’s transport officials estimate the restored flights could generate around 100,000 passengers annually.

For the time being, American Airlines will be the sole carrier to fly the Miami-Caracas route, having a de-facto monopoly.

However, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, “other U.S. carriers have expressed a strong interest” in restoring flights to Caracas and other Venezuelan destinations.

The most likely to get approval from the DOT are Delta Air Lines and United, which also used to fly to Venezuela. On the Venezuelan side, local carrier Laser Airlines could be the first carrier to enter the market using a leased Airbus A320, as Venezuelan-registered aircraft still face restrictions in the U.S.