Featured image: Marty Basaria/Airways

American Airlines Set to Reconnect U.S.–Venezuela Air Service

FORT WORTH — American Airlines (AA) has said via a press release that it plans to resume daily nonstop service between the United States and Venezuela, becoming the first U.S. carrier to publicly commit to restoring the two countries’ commercial air links, which were suspended in 2019.

The service planned reinstatement is pending government approvals and required security assessments with U.S. authorities, and will be announced in more detail in the coming months.

“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. The carrier said the restored flights would support business, leisure, and humanitarian travel once regulatory and safety milestones are met.

Airspace Reopening After Years of Suspension

Commercial flights between the U.S. and Venezuela have been dormant since 2019 amid deteriorated diplomatic relations and heightened security concerns. That suspension followed a U.S. ban on flights over Venezuelan airspace and was compounded by subsequent FAA warnings about military activity and GPS interference in the region, which led many international carriers to cancel service.

On January 29, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the reopening of Venezuela’s commercial airspace to U.S. carriers, saying American citizens would soon be able to travel safely to Venezuela and directing government agencies to lift previous restrictions. Venezuela’s acting leadership had been notified of the decision, marking a shift in aviation policy between the two countries.

What Comes Next

American has not yet disclosed specific routes, launch dates, or aircraft for the planned service. The airline noted it will coordinate with federal regulators, industry stakeholders, union partners, and its own teams to ensure flights resume with appropriate operational and safety safeguards in place.

Service resumption will depend on final government clearances from both countries and on security evaluations of conditions within Venezuelan airspace and at destination airports.

Timeline: U.S.–Venezuela Flight Policy

Suspensions, advisories, and restart signals • 2019–2026

May 2019

Suspended

U.S. suspends all direct scheduled flights

DOT Order 2019-5-5 blocks scheduled passenger and cargo flights between U.S. carriers and Venezuela, citing safety and security concerns.

RegulatorySafety

2019–2025

Suspended

No U.S.–Venezuela scheduled service

No U.S. airline operates regular flights to or from Venezuela; carriers avoid the airspace as risk guidance and regional conditions shift.

OperationsNetwork

November 2025

Restricted

Temporary airspace restrictions ripple across routes

Emergency restrictions and safety advisories prompt cancellations and reroutes around Venezuelan and nearby Caribbean routings.

AirspaceReroutes

Late 2025

Restricted

Venezuelan authorities revoke some airline permits

Amid escalating tensions, Caracas revokes flight rights for select foreign operators after service suspensions tied to safety and operational conditions.

RegulatoryInternational

Early January 2026

Reopened

Caribbean routes reopen after temporary limits

As restrictions lift, carriers resume normal planning on many Caribbean routings, reducing detours and operational drag.

AirspaceRecovery

January 13, 2026

Reopened

Some foreign carriers resume Venezuela service

Regional operators announce resumptions into Caracas as operational conditions stabilize and approvals align.

NetworkRestarts

January 29, 2026

Announced

U.S. signals Venezuela airspace reopening; AA plans return

Trump announces plans to reopen commercial airspace over Venezuela; American Airlines says it intends to resume daily nonstop service pending approvals and safety assessments.

Policy shiftU.S. carriers