Passengers and spectators have celebrated the arrival of the first US airplane bound for Venezuela that departed from the United States on Thursday.
The flight marked the conclusion of the seven years-long isolation of once-warring nations, with both governments hinting that more direct flights are on their way later in 2026.
The landmark arrival of flight AA3599 to Caracas from Miami was greeted with a warm welcome from ground airport operators, with the plane receiving a hosed-down gesture upon its landing on the tarmac of the Simon Bolivar International Airport.
The flight was spearheaded by Envoy Air, a subsidiary airline of American Airlines, with the second daily flight set to be officially available commercially on May 21.
Aboard the plane were 75 passengers, which included tourists, journalists and most importantly, US National Energy Dominance Council Jarrod Argen, who is in Venezuela to speak with potential stakeholders interested in placing their bets on the revival of energy and mining ties between Washington and Caracas.
The return of the direct air route is among the dramatic improvements in the once-strained relations between the US and Venezuela, especially after the ouster and arrest of former President Nicolas Maduro.
Travelers expressed their relief at the return of the route, saying that they would no longer use connecting flight routes from Bogota in reaching the oil-rich nation.
Before the send-off
Ahead of the departure of the flight, a send-off ceremony was held at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport to unveil the latest plane model of American Airlines that commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the US.
The event was led by American Airlines chief executive officer Robert Isom, who hailed the rekindling of the direct air route between the US and Venezuela as “vital”, adding it would support business, leisure and humanitarian travel, especially at a time when the latter nation seeks to tap further its tourism industry.
He also acknowledged that the route would restore a bridge to connect the largest community of Venezuelans in the US back to their homeland.
South Florida alone is home to at least 474,000 Venezuelans, according to 2024 data provided by Pew Research Center.
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From ‘Do Not Travel’ to ‘Reconsider Travel’
The US government had been keen on preparing to reopen its doors in welcoming and sending flights to Venezuela as early as early 2026.
The US State Department, in March, improved the categorization of Venezuela from a “Do Not Travel” to “Reconsider Travel,” this after the Maduro administration had been toppled in January.
However, the State Department still warns all US travelers entering Venezuela to be vigilant as the country continues to be plagued by crimes, kidnapping incidents, terrorism and poor health infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security had lifted its suspensions on direct commercial flights going to the South American nation after US authorities had successfully inspected security protocols in airports in Caracas during their visit to Venezuela in March.
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