Passengers on the first direct flight from Miami to Caracas since 2019 were excited to return but anxious about what they would find. For others, passport issues are still a hurdle.
April 30, 2026 at 7:05 p.m. EDT14 minutes ago
Isabel Parra, a dual citizen of the United States and Venezuela, boards the first direct commercial flight between the countries in seven years Thursday at Miami International Airport. (Rebecca Blackwell/AP)
Mexico City Bureau Chief Samantha Schmidt traveled from Miami to Caracas Thursday on the first commercial flight between the United States and Venezuela since 2019.
MIAMI — For the first time in nearly seven years, the American Airlines check-in counter at Miami International Airport displayed the name of a destination just three hours across the Caribbean: Caracas.