The Fort Worth-based carrier, which last operated flights to Venezuela in 2019 before service was suspended, said it intends to restart daily nonstop service once regulatory clearances are secured. American Airlines described the reinstatement as an opportunity to reconnect passengers for business, leisure and humanitarian travel, as well as to rebuild ties disrupted by years of diplomatic and aviation restrictions.

President Donald Trump’s administration has directed the U.S. Department of Transportation to lift previous restrictions that barred U.S. carriers from flying into Venezuelan airspace, a move that comes after Trump ordered the reopening of commercial airspace following earlier military actions that removed former President Nicolás Maduro from power. Trump said Americans would soon be able to travel safely to Venezuela.

American Airlines began operating in Venezuela in 1987 and was the largest U.S. airline in the market prior to the 2019 suspension. The planned resumption of service remains subject to reviews by federal authorities, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA), to ensure safety and compliance before flights can resume likely in the coming months

Officials in Washington said they were unaware of any military plan to implement such a closure. Neither the Pentagon nor the White House provided additional detail. Venezuela’s government denounced the declaration as a “colonialist threat” that violates international norms, calling it a unilateral act hostile to the nation’s sovereignty.

Military analysts noted that enforcing a no-fly zone would require extensive planning and resources. As one expert put it, “The devil’s in the details.” The administration has been reviewing actions related to alleged drug-trafficking networks linked to Venezuela, accusations Maduro rejects.

Residents in Caracas voiced concern that Trump’s statement could disrupt travel and separate families. One cooking assistant said people rely on flights for work and family needs, while a lawyer worried about holiday travel, saying, “We’re confined, here in Caracas, in Venezuela. Of course it affects us.”

Venezuelan officials accused Washington of pursuing “colonial ambitions” and argued that the announcement effectively halts deportation flights that have recently returned thousands of Venezuelans. They also noted increased military activity, surveillance, and disruptions to GPS signals amid the U.S. buildup. The declaration comes shortly after an American aviation warning about heightened risks for flights over Venezuela.