Trump announces reopening of Venezuelan airspace for commercial travel
President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he will reopen Venezuela’s airspace to commercial flights, clearing the way for airlines to resume service to the South American country following the apprehension earlier this month of former strongman Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces in a predawn raid in Caracas.
Speaking at the White House, Trump said he had spoken directly with Maduro’s successor, interim president Delcy Rodríguez, to inform her that all commercial airspace over Venezuela would be reopened.
“I just spoke to the President of Venezuela and informed her that there will be opening up all commercial airspace over Venezuela,” Trump said. “American citizens will be very shortly able to go to Venezuela and they’ll be safe there. It’s under very strong control.”
Following Trump’s announcement, American Airlines issued a press release saying it aims to be the first U.S. carrier to restore nonstop service to Venezuela. The Fort Worth-based airline, which has a major hub at Miami International Airport, said it is in close contact with U.S. federal authorities and is prepared to resume operations pending formal government approval and the completion of security assessments.
“We have a more than 30-year history connecting Venezolanos to the U.S., and we are ready to renew that incredible relationship,” said Nat Pieper, American’s chief commercial officer. He said restarting service would allow customers to reunite with family members and help rebuild business and commercial ties between the two countries after years of suspended air links.
American began operating in Venezuela in 1987 and, before suspending flights in 2019 amid security concerns, was the largest U.S. airline serving the country. The carrier said it will provide additional details on routes and schedules in the coming months as it works through regulatory and security requirements. Its announcement underscores how major airlines are positioning themselves to move quickly if the reopening of Venezuelan airspace proceeds as outlined by U.S. and Venezuelan authorities.
Trump said the move would allow Venezuelans living abroad to return home, either permanently or for visits, restoring travel links that have been largely frozen for nearly seven years.
He said he had instructed Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and other agencies, including the military, to complete the reopening by the end of the day.
“I’ve instructed Sean Duffy and everybody else concerned, including the military, that by the end of today I’d like to have the airspace over Venezuela opened up so planes can go to Venezuela,” Trump said, stressing the urgency of the directive.
Last November, ahead of the military operation that captured Maduro, Trump issued a message warning that the South American country’s airspace would “remain completely closed.”
One day after the arrest of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on Jan. 4, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a new notice about the “potentially dangerous” situation in the Maiquetía region near Caracas “at all altitudes due to military activity in or around Venezuela.
“The threats could pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes, including overflight, arrival, and departure,” the notice said. It remains in effect through Feb. 2, according to the FAA’s website.
While making the announcement, Trump said his decision was good news for the Venezuelan community in Doral — home to the largest concentration of the Venezuelan diaspora in the United States.
“U.S. citizens will be able to travel to Venezuela very soon, and they will be safe there, because it will be under very strict control. And people who used to live in Venezuela—some want to return, and others want to visit—and they will be able to do so,” the president said.
The White House did not immediately provide details on how the reopening would be implemented or whether additional security or regulatory reviews would be required before flights resume.
Diplomatic relations between Washington and Caracas collapsed in 2019, when the U.S. State Department raised its travel advisory for Venezuela to its highest level and warned Americans not to travel to the country.
As of Thursday, the State Department continued to list Venezuela under a “Do Not Travel” advisory, citing risks including wrongful detention, torture, kidnapping and violent crime.
The announcement comes as Venezuelan carrier Línea Aérea de Servicio Ejecutivo Regional, C.A., known as Laser Airlines, has renewed its request for authorization from the U.S. Department of Transportation to operate flights between Miami and Venezuela.
Laser submitted an amendment to an application originally filed in October 2011, seeking a foreign air carrier permit and a two-year exemption to operate scheduled and charter passenger, cargo and mail flights between Miami and the Venezuelan cities of Caracas, Valencia and Maracaibo.
If approved, Laser said it could begin nonstop service within 90 to 180 days, offering up to two daily flights using Boeing 737, MD-80 or MD-90 aircraft configured with about 150 seats. The airline said it could later deploy higher-capacity Boeing 767 aircraft.
Laser estimated it would transport approximately 172,800 passengers in its first year of direct service, while noting that demand forecasts remain uncertain.
The last U.S. carrier to operate routes between the United States and Venezuela was American Airlines, which suspended all its commercial air links in 2019, when the two countries finally severed their already fragile diplomatic relations.
This article was complemented with el Nuevo Herald’s wire services.
This story was originally published January 29, 2026 at 1:22 PM.
