The proposed service, which would be operated by American’s
wholly-owned subsidiary, Envoy, would utilize Embraer 175 aircraft. If
successful, the move would make American the first U.S. carrier to resume such
operations following a prolonged suspension.
The airline suspended all flights to Venezuela in 2019; a decision made at the time due to security concerns in the region. Prior to that, the airline had maintained a strong presence in the country, having first established service to Venezuela in 1987.
In a press release issued Thursday, American Airlines
executives expressed optimism regarding the ongoing negotiations with officials
in both Washington and Caracas.
“American was the first airline to announce plans to restart
service to Venezuela, and we are encouraged by the progress we’ve made with
both governments,” said Nate Gatten, American’s executive vice president of
American Eagle, Corporate Real Estate and Government Affairs. Gatten
specifically credited the support of U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy
and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in facilitating the diplomatic efforts
necessary to reach this stage.
For American, the Miami hub remains central to its Latin
American strategy. Nat Pieper, the airline’s chief commercial officer,
emphasized the historical significance of the route, noting that the company’s
relationship with Venezuela spans more than three decades.
“Our commitment to connecting Venezuela with the U.S. spans
more than 30 years, and we look forward to the new opportunities for commerce
and strengthened ties with family and friends that our service will provide,”
Pieper stated.
While the April 30 target date has been set, the airline
underscored that the actual implementation remains contingent on the
finalization of security and regulatory requirements.
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