American Airlines has resumed its nonstop flights between Venezuela and the United States for the first time in seven years, shortly after President Donald Trump ordered his administration to reopen the commercial airspace over the South American country by the end of the day.
The major airline carrier announced on Thursday it would restart flights to Venezuela pending government approval and security assessments.
During his first Cabinet meeting of the year, Trump said it was safe for airlines to do so after speaking with acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez.
“American citizens will be, very shortly, able to go to Venezuela, and they’ll be safe there,” he said. “They’ll be safe. It’s under very strong control.”
The announcement came less than a month after the U.S. military launched strikes on Venezuela and captured former dictator Nicolas Maduro, who was transported to New York City to face numerous federal charges. The Trump administration then closed Venezuela’s commercial airspace to U.S. flights. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was tasked by the president to quickly reopen it.
American Airlines followed suit with its announcement, saying more details about its flights will be shared in the coming months.
“We have a more than 30-year history connecting Venezolanos to the U.S., and we are ready to renew that incredible relationship,” American Airlines CCO Nat Pieper said in a statement. “By restarting service to Venezuela, American will offer customers the opportunity to reunite with families and create new business and commerce with the United States.”
In 2019, American Airlines suspended its services to Venezuela after the first Trump administration advised U.S. citizens to leave the country because of the political unrest there at the time. Due to the crisis, the airline’s pilots’ union told the airline to refuse trips to the South American nation.
TRUMP ORDERS IMMEDIATE RELAUNCH OF COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS TO VENEZUELA
Delta Airlines and United Airlines pulled their services in 2017 for the same reason.
No other major domestic airline has joined American Airlines in returning to Venezuela so far. Panama’s Copa Airlines restarted its flights to the Venezuelan capital of Caracas earlier this month after airspace conditions improved.
