The contrast could hardly be greater. While the airspace over the Middle East is currently largely closed due to the war in Iran, it is reopening in Venezuela. Due to a U.S. blockade, the Latin American country had been cut off from international commercial air traffic since 04DEC25. The initial mission was the transport of 65,000 chicks, which were flown from Brazil’s Viracopos Airport to Valencia (VLN) in central Venezuela last week.
A Boeing 737-400SF belonging to the Colombian airline, Cargo Aerosucre, was used for the charter project. The company responsible for transporting the animals was Global GSSA, which claims to be ‘very experienced’ in managing delicate and special cargo flights. The entire project, valued at 6.5 million reais (USD 1.3 million), was carried out timely and successfully, confirms the agent.
Carriers are returning
Next in line was Spain’s Plus Ultra, which resumed flights between Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) and Maiquetía International (IATA: CCS). The current two air services per week are to be increased to three from 01APR26, announced the carrier.
At the same time as Ultra, Turkish Airlines resumed its Istanbul-Caracas route with a B787-9 Dreamliner. The flight schedule includes three weekly nonstop services on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. It stipulates that the outbound flight departs Istanbul at 3.30 p.m. and lands in Caracas at 9.50 p.m. In the opposite direction, flight TK 224 departs from the Venezuelan capital at 11.45 p.m. and arrives in Turkey at 6.30 a.m. the next day, local time.
U.S. airlines are also planning flights to Venezuela
Also last Tuesday (03MAR26) the U.S. Department of Transportation approved a request from American Airlines to again offer passengers and cargo clients air services to Venezuela. These include the routes Miami-Caracas and Miami-Maracaibo. The flights are scheduled to be operated by Envoy Air, a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Airlines Group.
The step follows a January move by Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, to rescind a 2019 order that barred U.S. airlines from flying to Venezuela. President Donald Trump directed the department to lift the restriction, reopening the market after more than six years without direct commercial service.
No safety concerns
American Airlines began serving Venezuela in 1987 and was once the largest U.S. carrier operating in the country. It said the planned daily flights would support business, leisure and humanitarian travel.
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration traveled to Caracas last week to review and inspect airport security procedures – a required step before flights can resume. The Transportation Department’s approval is valid for two years. American has not specified when service would restart.
