Sawt Falasteen - Venezuela opens arms to world with Miami-Caracas flight

The United States is home to 1.2 million Venezuelans out of a 7.9-million-strong diaspora, according to United Nations data.

But direct US flights to its South American neighbor abruptly halted in May 2019, when President Donald Trump refused to recognize Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro's disputed election win and Caracas severed diplomatic ties.

Things have changed drastically, however, since US troops captured Maduro in a deadly raid on January 3.

Under Trump's watchful eye, interim leader Delcy Rodriguez has embarked on reforms, including opening Venezuela's oil and mining sectors to private companies.

Sweeping policy overhauls are transforming the historically important aviation sector too.

From Thursday, American Airlines subsidiary Envoy Air is operating a daily flight to Caracas from Miami, where around 250,000 Venezuelans reside.

Venezuela's Laser Airlines will operate the same route from May 1.

- Closed airspace -

The reopening follows Trump's declaration in November that Venezuelan airspace should be considered shuttered during a US military deployment which eventually culminated in Maduro's capture.

The statement, coupled with a US Federal Aviation Administration warning in December, led to mass flight cancellations and reduced connectivity by over two-thirds.

The upheaval fed into Venezuela's preexisting isolation, with most major international airlines having already halted connections to the country given the government's enormous unpaid debt.

In November, it was operating only 105 weekly international flights through 12 airlines -- a small number for such a strategically located country.

With 151 weekly international flights currently in operation, Venezuelan Airline Association (ALAV) president Marisela de Loaiza views increasing air traffic as crucial for normalization.

"The route between Venezuela and the United States is a natural connection, given the long-standing relations between both countries and Venezuelans' preference for traveling there," Loaiza said.

Copa Airlines operates the most flights, including 19 per week to Panama, and in March, Brazil's GOL launched four weekly flights from Sao Paulo.

When security conditions improved, "we had no choice but to come back -- very gladly," said GOL advisor Alberto Fajerman.

Long-haul flights to Europe are mostly handled by Turkish Airlines and Spanish carrier Iberia.

Venezuelan airlines Estelar, Laser and Plus Ultra also offer flights to the Spanish capital.

- Nostalgia, home visits -

ALAV's Loaiza is confident that reinstating connectivity will encourage other US companies to relaunch strategic routes -- particularly from Houston, which is vital for the oil industry.

Some believe direct flights would incentivize investors to explore opportunities in Venezuela.

Loaiza is also hoping for a revival of "nostalgia tourism" for diaspora members.

"One of the first waves we're expecting is that of Venezuelans who are coming back to visit their families and to make it easier for their children, who don't know the country, to travel here," Loaiza said.

But she warned that reactivating consular services was essential, given the large number of Venezuelans who require a US visa.

H.Darwish--SF-PST