The first direct US-Venezuela commercial flight in 7 years lands in Caracas

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The first direct commercial flight between the United States and Venezuela arrived Thursday in the capital of the South American country, seven years after the U.S. Homeland Security Department ordered an indefinite suspension, citing security concerns.

The resumption of a nonstop commercial flight between the two countries comes months after the U.S. capture of then President Nicolás Maduro in a stunning nighttime raid on his residence in Caracas in early January.

It also comes a month after the U.S. formally reopened its embassy in Caracas following the restoration of full diplomatic relations with Venezuela.

“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.”

The director of the U.S. National Energy Dominance Council, Jarrod Agen, was among the passengers on the inaugural flight. Agen is scheduled to meet with Venezuelan officials and executives from energy and mining sectors as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to facilitate the entry of U.S. companies into the South American country, reported the Venezuelan government.

At Miami International Airport, 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. It arrived 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.

In late January, U.S. President Donald Trump said that he informed Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez that he would open up all commercial airspace over the country, allowing Americans to visit.

“American citizens will be very shortly able to go to Venezuela, and they’ll be safe there,” Trump said at the time.

The flights mark the resumption of nonstop travel between the U.S. and Venezuela for the first time since diplomatic ties were severed in 2019. For the past seven years, passengers have relied on international airlines and indirect routes through neighboring Latin American countries.

In January, when the airline announced the resumption of flights, it said it would give customers the opportunity to reunite with families and pursue new business opportunities.

American Airlines was the last U.S. airline flying to Venezuela. It suspended flights in 2019 between Miami and Caracas, as well as flights to the oil hub city of Maracaibo. Delta and United Airlines pulled out in 2017 amid a political crisis that forced millions to flee the country.

“Parents will be able to connect with children, grandparents with grandchildren, and entire families with a home that shaped and raised them,” Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said at a news conference before boarding started. “Miami-Dade is home to the largest Venezuelan community in the United States.”

Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

Passengers line up to check in for a U.S.-bound commercial flight at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia, Venezuela, Thursday, April 30, 2026, as direct air service between the United States and Venezuela resumes after seven years. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

American Airlines Flight AA3599, the first direct commercial flight between the United States and Venezuela in seven years, gets a water cannon salute as it taxis away from the gate, Thursday, April 30, 2026, at Miami International Airport in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

A National Guard officer checks passengers ID's prior to check in for a U.S.-bound commercial flight at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia, Venezuela, Thursday, April 30, 2026, as direct air service between the United States and Venezuela resumes after seven years. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

A passenger boards American Airlines Flight AA3599, the first direct commercial flight between the United States and Venezuela in seven years, Thursday, April 30, 2026, at Miami International Airport in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Capt. Ric Wilson waves a Venezuelan flag and the first officer waves a U.S. flag as they prepare to fly American Airlines Flight AA3599, the first direct commercial flight between the United States and Venezuela in seven years, Thursday, April 30, 2026, at Miami International Airport in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

A worker cleans the check-in area ahead of the arrival of a U.S. commercial flight at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia, Venezuela, Thursday, April 30, 2026, as direct air service between the United States and Venezuela resumes after seven years. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillo)

Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez speaks at Miraflores Palace during a meeting with Colombian President Gustavo Petro in Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, April 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Brayden Schenn had a goal and two assists, Victor Eklund scored for the fourth straight game, and the New York Islanders snapped a four-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night.

Matthew Schaefer scored in his 100th NHL game, Simon Holmstrom had a goal and an assist, Bo Horvat scored a late empty-netter, and the Islanders picked up at least a point for the third straight game. Ilya Sorokin made 26 saves.

Trevor Moore and Quinton Byfield scored, and Kevin Fiala had an assist in his season debut as the Kings lost their third straight game. Playing in his 500th career game, Darcy Kuemper made 16 saves.

Schaefer and Eklund, two of the Islanders’ young cornerstones, came up with key contributions while each picking up a point for the fourth straight game.

Schaefer had a power-play goal to put New York back up 2-1 midway through the first period, his 29th career goal and 77th point at the century mark of games played. Schaefer moved up to fourth in career points by a teenage defenseman, behind Hall of Famers Phil Housley (132) and Ray Bourque (79) and Buffalo Sabres star Rasmus Dahlin (84).

Eklund made it 3-1 early in the second period, becoming the third New York rookie to score in four straight games in the past 20 years and 11th overall.

Fiala played for the first time since breaking his left leg at the Milan Cortina Olympics in February, but the offensive-minded winger’s presence could not enough to get the Kings back on track. Fiala did have the secondary assist on Byfield’s power-play goal, which marked the 300th helper of his career.

Islanders: At Anaheim on Saturday.

Kings: Host Calgary on Saturday.

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

New York Islanders center Brayden Schenn (10) scores past Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Los Angeles Kings left wing Trevor Moore (12) checks New York Islanders defenseman Ben Hutton (71) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Los Angeles Kings right wing Quinton Byfield (55) celebrates his goal with the bench during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) blocks a shot by Los Angeles Kings right wing Alex Laferriere (14) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

New York Islanders center Brayden Schenn (10) celebrates his goal with right wing Mitchell Chaffee (26), left wing Matias MacCelli (63), and defenseman Adam Pelech (3) during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)