“A great opportunity for the country.” The moment an American Airlines plane lands in Venezuela after almost 7 years
A commercial passenger plane from the United States landed in Venezuela on Thursday for the first time in seven years, as the two countries gradually resume economic relations after the ouster of Nicolas Maduro, CNN reports.
American Airlines resumed flights to Venezuela PHOTO EPA-EFE
The American Airlines flight took just under three hours – departing Miami at 10:26 a.m. (US East Coast time) and landing at around 1:15 p.m. (local time) at Simón Bolívar International Airport, located near Caracas. The plane returned later that same day to Miami.
The airline announced that it is the first US carrier to resume daily service to Venezuela, using a two-class Embraer 175 aircraft operated by its subsidiary Envoy.
Festive atmosphere
Before take-off, the atmosphere at Miami International Airport was one of celebration: music, traditional Venezuelan dishes such as arepas and balloons in the colors of the Venezuelan flag were prepared at the boarding gate.
A TSA employee reacted with surprise to a passenger's destination: “Caracas? Haven't seen this destination in a long time.”
On board, about two-thirds of the seats were occupied, due to weight restrictions, with most of the passengers being journalists and officials.
And upon arrival in Venezuela, the atmosphere was festive: at the airport, a saxophonist performed “Theme from New York, New York”.
Emotion and stories
For many passengers, the resumption of direct flights has a strong emotional charge.
Ricardo Mariani told CNN he was returning on the American Airlines flight back to Miami to attend his daughter's graduation and for a medical checkup. “It's an important opportunity for the country, for all of us. Before, it could take a whole day with several stops.”
Mariani added that previous layovers were risky due to an eye condition and that he had been waiting for this flight “for years”.
Bárbara Centeno, a Venezuelan who has lived in Florida for seven years, described the moment as an emotional one “My relatives will now have the opportunity to fly direct and spend more time together instead of spending hours on connections.”
Lenard Ochoa, who hasn't been back to Venezuela in 18 years, said he plans to travel frequently: “I want to discover places I haven't seen even when I lived there. To see my family – nephews, uncles, aunts, parents… two and a half hours to Venezuela is priceless.”
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Costs
Ticket prices vary depending on the period and type of fare. A search on the American Airlines website shows that a round-trip flight from Miami to Caracas in early May, returning at the end of the month, is over $1,000.
However, some Venezuelans may have difficulty accessing these flights due to limited access to passports and visas as Venezuela no longer has a functioning consulate in the United States.
Political and diplomatic background
The resumption of flights comes amid the gradual normalization of relations between Washington and Caracas. The US withdrew its diplomats from Venezuela in 2019 after the diplomatic rift over the recognition of opposition leader Juan Guaidó as interim president.
In March, the United States announced the official resumption of embassy operations in Caracas.
The US lifted the ban on passenger and cargo flights to Venezuela after US authorities concluded that “the situation in Venezuela no longer threatens the safety of passengers, aircraft and crews”.
Since Maduro's ouster, the interim government led by Delcy Rodríguez has enacted several economic and political reforms, including a law that led to the mass release of political prisoners and measures facilitating foreign investment in the oil sector.
At the same time, US sanctions were gradually eased, facilitating greater economic integration and increased foreign exchange earnings.
US authorities have described the resumption of flights as an important step for the economy. Transport Secretary Sean Duffy said it was a “crucial moment” in strengthening the bilateral relationship and noted that expanding the number of routes in the future was being considered.
The Venezuelan government, through Transportation Minister Jacqueline Faría, said the country is ready to welcome American tourists and hopes to serve 100,000 passengers annually.
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The White House marked the event with an animated image of a plane flying over famous Venezuelan landmarks.
Diaspora and perspectives
According to the Migration Policy Institute, approximately 764,000 Venezuelans were living in the United States in mid-2024.
Venezuelan-American entrepreneur Liz Rebecca Alarcón welcomed the resumption of flights: “Anything that brings the diaspora closer to the people of Venezuela is good news. I hope the prices are affordable and that these changes are part of the democratic transition we all want.”
However, the political future remains uncertain. The Venezuelan opposition says it is ready for possible elections, and opposition leader María Corina Machado recently said she would run for president if an election were held: “Certainly, I will offer myself … so that the Venezuelan people can freely choose what they want.”
In January, the United States presented Venezuela with a three-phase plan aimed at ensuring stabilization, recovery and a democratic transition in the country.
Instead, officials in the interim government say elections will be held “when the time is right,” with no clear timetable set.
“Elections will take place when they take place, and on that day the revolutionary forces will be ready to win, as we have always won,” Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said earlier this month.
