Published on : 17 Feb 2026
VENEZUELA RECONNECTS: In one of the most significant aviation comebacks of 2026, Venezuela’s international air links are being dramatically restored as 9 major airlines progressively resume flights to Caracas following a devastating three-month isolation triggered by a US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety advisory in November 2025—with Air Europa becoming the FIRST European carrier to fly into Caracas again TODAY (February 17, 2026) on its historic UX071/UX072 Madrid-Caracas rotation, Avianca already operating daily Bogotá-Caracas since February 12, and a cascade of returning carriers lined up including Turkish Airlines (March 3, TK223/TK224 Boeing 787-9 3x weekly), Plus Ultra (March 3, 2x weekly Madrid-Caracas + Tenerife-Caracas from March 28), LATAM (February 23, Bogotá-Caracas), Wingo (March 1, Medellín-Caracas), GOL (March 8, São Paulo-Caracas), TAP Portugal (March 30, Lisbon-Caracas), and Iberia (April 6, Madrid-Caracas) — restoring connectivity for Venezuela’s 6.5 million diaspora across Europe and the Americas, slashing ticket prices from the outrageous $800-$1,700 per route seen during the isolation period, and signalling the most dramatic diplomatic and aviation turnaround in Latin America in decades following the late-January 2026 Caracas-Washington agreement that reopened Venezuelan airspace and paved the way for this historic full comeback.
Published: February 17, 2026 Breaking: Air Europa Madrid-Caracas FIRST FLIGHT resumes TODAY Total Airlines Returning: 9 carriers (Feb 12 – April 6, 2026) Trigger: Late-January 2026 Caracas-Washington airspace agreement Suspension Duration: ~11 weeks (November 24, 2025 – February 12, 2026) Diaspora Benefiting: ~6.5 million Venezuelans abroad (Spain, US, Colombia, Europe, Brazil) Ticket Price Impact: From $800-$1,700 peak → projected return to $300-$500 normal range Key Aircraft: Air Europa A330-200/300, Turkish Airlines Boeing 787-9, Iberia A330 American Airlines: Already announced resumption (previously covered) Avianca: Already operating daily Bogotá-Caracas since February 12
| Date | Airline | Route | Frequency | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 12 | Avianca ✅ OPERATING | Bogotá → Caracas | Daily | A320 family |
| Feb 17 | Air Europa ✅ TODAY | Madrid → Caracas | 3 dates (17, 20, 22) | A330-200/300 |
| Feb 18 | Laser Airlines | Caracas → Madrid/Barcelona | TBC | TBC |
| Feb 23 | LATAM Airlines | Bogotá → Caracas | TBC | A319/A320 |
| Mar 1 | Wingo | Medellín → Caracas | TBC | Boeing 737 |
| Mar 3 | Turkish Airlines | Istanbul → Caracas | 3x weekly (Tue/Wed/Sat) | Boeing 787-9 |
| Mar 3 | Plus Ultra | Madrid → Caracas | 2x weekly (Tue/Thu) | A340-300 |
| Mar 8 | GOL Linhas Aéreas | São Paulo → Caracas | TBC | Boeing 737 MAX |
| Mar 28 | Plus Ultra (expanded) | Tenerife → Caracas | 1x weekly | A340-300 |
| Mar 30 | TAP Portugal | Lisbon → Caracas | TBC | A330neo |
| Apr 6 | Iberia | Madrid → Caracas | 3x weekly (Tue/Thu/Fri) | A330 |
| TBD | American Airlines | Miami → Caracas | Daily (announced) | Boeing 737/A321 |
| TBD | Copa Airlines | Panama City → Miami-Caracas | TBC | Boeing 737 MAX |
Air Europa has announced it will progressively resume flights from its Madrid hub to Caracas starting on February 17, 2026, after more than three months of halted services.
Flight details:
February schedule:
The company explicitly clarified that flights previously scheduled for February 19 and 21 remain canceled.
March ramp-up: Air Europa will fly between Madrid and Caracas on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays in February, while adding a fourth flight in March. The company indicated that any updates after March 21 will be communicated through its usual channels.
Ticket revalidation: All tickets issued between 24 November and 17 February can be revalidated without fees, though seat availability is tight because of pent-up demand and because two weekly rotations remain cancelled.
November 2025 — The shutdown:
Air Europa was among a long list of airlines that halted operations to and from Venezuela after the US Federal Aviation Administration warned of a “potentially hazardous situation” when flying over the country, long before a US military strike and raid on January 3. US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and transported him to New York to face drug-trafficking charges.
Why airlines stopped:
The diplomatic cascade:
Avianca confirmed the reactivation of its daily nonstop service between Bogotá in Colombia and Caracas, with operations restarting on 12 February 2026 after a comprehensive review of safety and operational conditions in coordination with relevant authorities.
Why Avianca led:
Historic significance: This Bogotá-Caracas route had actually been suspended since 2017 before its brief restoration — making the February 12 resumption a 9-year reconnection of two neighboring capitals.
Turkish Airlines will resume direct Istanbul–Caracas flights on March 3, 2026, operating three weekly frequencies (Tues/Wed/Sat) with Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
Exact confirmed flight details:
Why Turkish Airlines matters for Venezuela:
March 29 expansion: Frequency increases to 4x weekly (per earlier search data)
Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas announced it will resume flights to Venezuela starting March 3. Initially, it will operate two direct weekly frequencies—on Tuesdays and Thursdays—between Madrid and Caracas. However, the airline’s plan includes a short-term reinforcement. Starting March 28, the following will be added: A third weekly frequency on the Madrid–Caracas route. A weekly Tenerife–Caracas flight, expanding connectivity from the Canary Islands in addition to the Mainland.
Plus Ultra March schedule:
Why Tenerife-Caracas matters:
LATAM will resume its flights from Bogotá on February 23.
Why LATAM’s return matters:
Wingo will restart flights to Caracas from Medellín on March 1.
Why Wingo matters:
GOL will fly from São Paulo on March 8.
Why Brazil-Venezuela matters:
March 30 significance:
Iberia plans to resume flights in early April. On its website, the Madrid-Caracas route is listed as available from April 7th with three weekly flights: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Why Iberia’s April 6 return completes the comeback:
Laser Airlines (Venezuelan carrier): Venezuelan airline Laser resumed its flights connecting Caracas with Madrid and Barcelona this weekend.
Estelar: Estelar plans to restart operations on April 3.
During the November 2025-February 2026 suspension period:
Just after the disputed elections in 2024, Venezuelans complained of skyrocketing ticket prices, with common routes like Bogotá-Caracas hitting between USD $800 and $1,700 per ticket.
Normal pre-suspension prices:
Suspension-period prices:
Post-resumption projection:
Venezuelan diaspora by country:
| Country | Venezuelan Diaspora | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Colombia | ~2.9 million | Avianca daily, LATAM, Wingo all back |
| Peru | ~1.5 million | LATAM Bogotá-Caracas connection |
| USA | ~500,000 | American Airlines Miami-Caracas returning |
| Spain | ~400,000 | Air Europa TODAY, Plus Ultra March 3, Iberia April 6 |
| Ecuador | ~450,000 | LATAM connections |
| Chile | ~450,000 | LATAM Santiago-Bogotá-Caracas |
| Brazil | ~300,000 | GOL São Paulo-Caracas March 8 |
| Argentina | ~180,000 | LATAM Buenos Aires connections |
| Total | ~6.5 million | 9 airlines restoring service |
Real stories:
Venezuela visa requirements (February 2026):
Entry requirements:
Venezuela tourism highlights:
Important cautions:
Q: Is it safe to fly to Venezuela now? A: Airlines are resuming after FAA lifted its advisory, but check your government’s travel advisory. US State Department Level 4 advisory remains. EU travelers: check FCDO/national advisories. Situation improving but caution warranted.
Q: Can I rebook my cancelled Air Europa ticket? A: Yes. All tickets issued between 24 November and 17 February can be revalidated without fees, though seat availability is tight because of pent-up demand.
Q: What’s the cheapest way to fly Caracas now? A: Wingo (Medellín, from March 1) will be cheapest. Avianca Bogotá-Caracas daily also competitive. Book early — demand far exceeds current supply.
Q: When will American Airlines resume Miami-Caracas? A: Announced but no confirmed date yet. Expected Q1-Q2 2026. Miami → Caracas likely first US domestic link.
Q: What happened to Conviasa during the suspension? A: Venezuela’s state carrier Conviasa continued limited operations throughout. However, Conviasa faces US sanctions restricting its ability to fly to many destinations.
Q: Will prices drop quickly? A: Yes, but gradually. Significant capacity returns March-April (Turkish, Plus Ultra, GOL, TAP, Iberia all resuming). Full price normalization expected May-June 2026.
Venezuela’s aviation comeback is one of the most dramatic stories in 2026 travel news — after months of near isolation from some of its most important long-haul markets, Venezuela is poised for a dramatic reconnection with the world’s skies as Air Europa’s historic first European flight resumes TODAY (February 17), Turkish Airlines brings its Boeing 787-9 on March 3, Plus Ultra adds Tenerife-Caracas from March 28, GOL links São Paulo on March 8, TAP connects Lisbon on March 30, and Iberia completes the Spanish carrier trilogy on April 6 — restoring connectivity for 6.5 million diaspora Venezuelans, slashing ticket prices from $800-$1,700 back toward $80-$350 normal range, and completing the most comprehensive international airline comeback to a single destination in recent aviation history.
For Venezuelan diaspora: Key facts:
For More Information:
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Posted By : Vinay
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