After nearly three months of interruption, the first passenger plane from Europe landed at Venezuela's Maiquetía airport. An Air Europa aircraft inaugurated the restoration of civilian air traffic, which was halted in November 2025 for security reasons. This event is seen as a symbol of the country's cautious return to the international community following the recent capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. armed forces and the lifting of the airspace blockade.

End of air isolation

The first flight from Madrid to Caracas in three months landed on the evening of February 17, ending the period of communication paralysis.

White House decision

The restoration of connections was enabled by a decree from Donald Trump on January 29, which lifted the flight ban for American and international airlines.

Caution among emigrants

Despite the resumption of flights, Venezuelan migrants still fear returning permanently, limiting themselves to short visits with relatives.

On the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, an Air Europa Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner landed at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas. This was the first direct flight from Madrid since November 24, 2025. Recall that air traffic was suspended after warnings from the United States regarding military threats in the region. This symbolic landing occurs just 89 days after the country was completely cut off from European connections and less than seven weeks after the special operation on January 3, which resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro. The decision to reopen the airspace to commercial flights was made on January 29 at the order of President Donald Trump, following prior consultations with Delcy Rodríguez. Although flights have been restored, passenger sentiment remains cautious. Most travelers are Venezuelans visiting families, but many declare that it is still too early to return permanently to their homeland due to the unstable internal situation. Carriers such as TAP Air Portugal are also considering a swift return to this route, which may herald the end of the country's communication isolation. Venezuela possesses some of the world's largest oil reserves, but decades of mismanagement and sanctions have led to hyperinflation and mass emigration of over 7 million citizens since 2014. <cytat autor=

Mentioned People

  • Nicolás Maduro — Former president of Venezuela, captured during an American military operation on January 3.
  • Donald Trump — President of the USA, who issued the regulation on reopening Venezuelan airspace.
  • Delcy Rodríguez — Representative of Venezuelan authorities participating in talks on normalizing air traffic.