The first direct commercial flight from Venezuela to the United States in seven years successfully landed at Miami International Airport on Monday evening. The American Airlines plane departed from Caracas and covered the distance in just over three hours. The arrival of passengers in Miami was less festive than the morning departure from Florida, where travelers were treated to traditional Venezuelan tequeños and greeted with balloons in the colors of the national flag. On board the inaugural flight to Caracas was a White House delegation and U.S. businesspeople to discuss economic cooperation, including energy, oil and gas.
Direct air service between the countries was interrupted in 2019 amid political tensions. The resumption of flights became possible after a recent thaw in relations, including the reopening of the U.S. embassy in Caracas on March 30. American Airlines received permission from U.S. authorities in March and will now operate flights daily until May 20, after which it will double the frequency. Ticket prices are still high: a round-trip at the end of April costs about $2,700, but for May fares are already significantly lower — just over $1,000. The restoration of direct service is especially important for the largest Venezuelan diaspora in the U.S., concentrated in Miami.
Full version: Aterriza en Miami el primer vuelo directo a EEUU procedente de Venezuela en siete años