American Airlines has announced plans to resume daily nonstop service between the United States and Venezuela, pending government approval and security assessments. The move would make American the first U.S. airline to return to the Venezuelan market since 2019, when U.S. carriers suspended operations due to safety and regulatory concerns.
The airline said it is working closely with federal regulatory agencies, union partners and key stakeholders to ensure a safe reinstatement of flights. According to the company, the service will support business, leisure and humanitarian travel between the two countries.
“We have a more than 30-year history connecting Venezolanos to the U.S., and we are ready to renew that incredible relationship,” said Nat Pieper, American’s Chief Commercial Officer, in a press statement. “By restarting service to Venezuela, American will offer customers the opportunity to reunite with families and create new business and commerce with the United States.”
American and Venezuela Go Way Back
American began serving Venezuela in 1987, and before the suspension, operated one of the most extensive U.S. carrier networks in the country. Prior to 2019, flights connected Miami to Caracas and Maracaibo. The airline said it remains prepared to resume operations once official clearances and security evaluations are completed.
According to a report by Newsweek, the U.S. Department of Transportation approved the proposal for American to reinstate flights between Miami and Caracas after reviewing the carrier’s application submitted in early 2026. The approval, Newsweek noted, follows bilateral talks aimed at restoring limited commercial air service between the two nations following several years of diplomatic and aviation restrictions.
American currently operates the largest network among U.S. airlines in Latin America and the Caribbean, offering more nonstop flights to the region than any other carrier. The planned Venezuela reinstatement extends that reach to one of the few remaining South American destinations not currently served by a U.S. airline.
The airline said it will release additional details, including confirmed launch dates and route schedules, once final authorizations and operational assessments are completed. American added that coordinating closely with government authorities and internal safety teams remains the priority ahead of the service restart.
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