The first direct commercial flight from the United States to Venezuela since 2019 departed Thursday morning.
American Airlines operated a flight from Miami to Caracas, which left at 10:16 a.m. ET and landed at Simon Bolivar International Airport at 1:36 p.m. local time.
The flight follows the U.S. formal reopening of its embassy in Caracas and the restoration of full diplomatic relations with Venezuela.
“I’m very excited to go and see my family and I’m looking forward to seeing the country,” said passenger Lennart Ochoa of Miami shortly before boarding. He noted he was “ready to go” and had secured his ticket as soon as they became available. “Just to go and see my family on a direct flight from Miami to Caracas is priceless.”
American Airlines staff handed passengers small Venezuelan flags, while balloons in the colors yellow, blue and red adorned the gate door leading to the plane.
Flight AA3599, operated by Envoy Air (a subsidiary of American Airlines), departed Miami at 10:11 a.m. EDT (1411 GMT), five minutes ahead of its scheduled departure time, according to Miami International Airport data. The flight was expected to arrive in Caracas around three hours later and return to Florida later that afternoon.
The airline announced that a second daily flight between Miami and Caracas would begin on May 21.
“The White House stated: ‘American Airlines is resuming direct flights from the U.S. to Venezuela for the first time in seven years. This wouldn’t be possible without President Trump’s brave leadership in Operation Absolute Resolve.’”
Onboard, approximately two-thirds of seats were filled due to weight restrictions, with passengers largely consisting of journalists and officials.
The airline had previously announced plans to resume flights in January — the same day U.S. President Donald Trump directed the Department of Transportation to take steps to reestablish air service to Venezuela.
Flights to Caracas vary in price depending on departure date, ticket type and route. A search on the American Airlines website showed a round-trip ticket departing Miami early in May and returning at the end of the month costing more than $1,000.
At Simon Bolivar International Airport, about 16 miles west of Caracas, a festive atmosphere prevailed as a saxophonist played “Theme from New York, New York.”
Ricardo Mariani said he was traveling on an afternoon American Airlines flight back to Miami to attend his daughter’s graduation in Florida and for vision checks.
“It is a big opportunity for the country, for all of us,” Mariani remarked at the airport. “Before it could take an entire day flying from layover to layover.”