JetBlue Plans Fort Lauderdale–Caracas Flights

‍FORT LAUDERDALE — JetBlue Airways (B6) plans to launch nonstop service between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and Simón Bolívar International Airport (CCS) near Caracas, marking the airline’s first-ever route to Venezuela.

The proposed service remains subject to government approval and completion of the required processes to operate in Venezuela. B6 said it plans to begin flights before the end of 2026, with tickets expected to go on sale in the coming months.

JetBlue targets South Florida–Venezuela demand

If approve, B6 customers will fly to the storied South American capital on an Airbus A320 aircraft, offering the carrier’s standard onboard product, including free Fly-Fi, seatback entertainment, snacks, and drinks.

The airline framed the route around visiting-friends-and-relatives demand, noting South Florida’s large Venezuelan community. Unlike American Airlines’ (AA) restored Miami (MIA)–Caracas service, B6’s proposal would use Fort Lauderdale as the South Florida gateway.

That distinction matters. Fort Lauderdale has become one of B6’s most important focus cities, with the airline expecting nearly 130 daily departures from FLL this summer.

Part of a larger FLL build-up

The Caracas plan follows B6’s broader FLL expansion, announced earlier this month, which includes 11 new destinations and added frequencies across the U.S., Latin America, and the Caribbean. The airline said that expansion gives FLL its largest-ever JetBlue schedule.

Those new and expanded routes include Barranquilla (BAQ), Cali (CLO), Baltimore (BWI), Charlotte (CLT), Nashville (BNA), Detroit (DTW), Houston (IAH), Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Ponce (PSE), Columbus (CMH), and Indianapolis (IND).

Caracas would extend that strategy into one of South Florida’s most politically and commercially sensitive Latin American markets.

Venezuela reopens to U.S. carriers

JetBlue’s announcement comes as U.S.–Venezuela air links rebuild after years of suspension. American rAirlines resumed Miami–Caracas flights on April 30, the first U.S. commercial passenger service to Venezuela in seven years.

United Airlines (UA) has also announced plans to resume daily Houston Intercontinental (IAH)–Caracas service on August 11 using a Boeing 737-8, pending approval.

If approved, the New York JFK-based carrier would become the third major U.S. airline to reenter the Caracas market in 2026, but with a different network proposition: Fort Lauderdale origin-and-destination traffic plus connections across B6’s Caribbean and Latin America network.

Our take

JetBlue’s Caracas plan is not just another route announcement. It shows how quickly U.S. airlines are moving to test Venezuela demand after the reopening of direct commercial passenger service.

For B6, the route fits its FLL strategy: rebuild scale, defend South Florida relevance, and use Fort Lauderdale as a lower-cost alternative gateway for Latin America and the Caribbean. For Venezuelan travelers in South Florida, it could add a second nonstop airport option beyond MIA.

The key caveat remains regulatory. B6 has announced its intent to fly FLL–CCS, but the route is not yet approved or on sale. Government authorization, followed by schedule, frequency, and launch-date confirmation, are the next milestones.