US-Venezuela relations thaw: First direct flight to Caracas in 7 years arrives
The first direct flight from the United States to Venezuela in seven years landed in Caracas today, signaling a thaw in US-Venezuela relations. This resumption of air travel comes after nearly four months since the US softened its stance on Venezuela's leftist leader Nicolas Maduro.
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- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 07:34
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（Central News Agency, Caracas 30th comprehensive foreign report）After nearly four months since the United States overturned its strong stance against Venezuelan leftist leader Nicolas Maduro, the first direct flight from the US to Venezuela in seven years landed today in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.
Agence France-Presse reported that the flight, operated by American Airlines subsidiary Envoy Air, arrived at Maiquetia International Airport around 1:15 PM local time (17:15 GMT).
The plane departed from Miami, Florida, at 10:26 AM (14:26 GMT) and landed smoothly in Caracas less than 3 hours later.
After years of strained relations, the US has resumed diplomatic engagement with Venezuela. The passenger list included several high-ranking Washington officials who will meet with Venezuelan government personnel, a scenario unimaginable just a few months ago.
Among other passengers, 44-year-old Claudia Varesano, who has family and business in Venezuela, said that in the past, she frequently traveled between the two countries but had to endure lengthy layovers, turning a "3-hour flight into 8 hours."
American Airlines, with its extensive network in Latin America, began flying to Venezuela in 1987. However, as the US and other countries deemed Maduro's election victory illegitimate, US-Venezuela relations deteriorated, and American Airlines suspended flights to Venezuela in 2019.
The State Department continues to urge Americans to reconsider travel to Venezuela due to widespread crime, but in March, it lifted its blanket warning against all travel. (Translator: Yang Chao-Yen) 1150501
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Agence France-Presse reported that the flight, operated by American Airlines subsidiary Envoy Air, arrived at Maiquetia International Airport around 1:15 PM local time (17:15 GMT).
The plane departed from Miami, Florida, at 10:26 AM (14:26 GMT) and landed smoothly in Caracas less than 3 hours later.
After years of strained relations, the US has resumed diplomatic engagement with Venezuela. The passenger list included several high-ranking Washington officials who will meet with Venezuelan government personnel, a scenario unimaginable just a few months ago.
Among other passengers, 44-year-old Claudia Varesano, who has family and business in Venezuela, said that in the past, she frequently traveled between the two countries but had to endure lengthy layovers, turning a "3-hour flight into 8 hours."
American Airlines, with its extensive network in Latin America, began flying to Venezuela in 1987. However, as the US and other countries deemed Maduro's election victory illegitimate, US-Venezuela relations deteriorated, and American Airlines suspended flights to Venezuela in 2019.
The State Department continues to urge Americans to reconsider travel to Venezuela due to widespread crime, but in March, it lifted its blanket warning against all travel. (Translator: Yang Chao-Yen) 1150501
Choose to stand with facts. Every sponsorship you provide is a force for protecting press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.