The first direct commercial flight from the United States to Venezuela since 2019 departed on Thursday morning.

American Airlines operated a flight from Miami to Caracas, which departed 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. formally reopening its embassy in Caracas and restoring full diplomatic relations with the country.

Fox News provided coverage:

More from the Associated Press:

“I’m very excited to go and see the family and I’m looking forward to see the country,” said passenger Lennart Ochoa of Miami shortly before boarding. He said that he was “ready to go” and got his ticket as soon as they were available. “Just to go and see the family on a direct flight from Miami to Caracas is priceless.”

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American Airlines staff handed passengers small Venezuelan flags. Balloons with its 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 time, according to Miami International Airport flight departure information. The flight is due to arrive around three hours later in the Venezuelan capital, returning to Florida later in the afternoon.

Earlier, the airline said that a second daily flight between Miami and Caracas will start on May 21.

“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,” The White House stated.

CNN shared further:

Onboard the plane, around two-thirds of the seats were taken due to weight restrictions and were largely filled with journalists and officials.

The airline had announced its intent to resume flights in January, the same day US President Donald Trump instructed the Department of Transportation to take steps to reestablish air service to Venezuela.

Flights to Caracas vary in price depending on the date of departure, type of ticket and route. A search on the American Airlines website shows a round-trip ticket departing Miami early May and returning end of the month is costing more than $1,000.

It was similarly festive at Simon Bolivar International Airport, about 16 miles west of Caracas, as a saxophonist played “Theme from New York, New York.”

Ricardo Mariani told CNN that he is traveling on the afternoon American Airlines flight back to Miami to attend his daughter’s graduation in Florida and to get his vision checked.

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“It is a big opportunity for the country, for all of us,” Mariani said at Simon Bolivar International Airport. “Before it could take an entire day flying from layover to layover.”

 

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