Trump says he’s instructed US officials to reopen Venezuelan airspace for commercial travel

Trump says Venezuelan airspace will reopen to commercial travel and Americans soon can visit 1 of 3 | President Donald Trump says he told Venezuelan leader Delcy Rodríguez the U.S. will open Venezuela’s commercial airspace, allowing Americans to visit. He said Thursday he’s ordered Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and military leaders to do so by day’s end. 2 of 3 | President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) 3 of 3 | Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodriguez makes a statement to the press at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) 1 of 3 President Donald Trump says he told Venezuelan leader Delcy Rodríguez the U.S. will open Venezuela’s commercial airspace, allowing Americans to visit. He said Thursday he’s ordered Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and military leaders to do so by day’s end. Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. 2 of 3 President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. 3 of 3 Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodriguez makes a statement to the press at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] Washington (AP) — President Donald Trump said Thursday he has informed Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, that he will open up all commercial airspace over the Venezuela and Americans will soon be able to visitTrump said he instructed his transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, and U.S. military leaders to take steps to open the airspace for travel by the end of the day.“American citizens will be very shortly able to go to Venezuela, and they’ll be safe there,” the Republican president said.Venezuela’s government did not immediately comment. AP AUDIO: Trump says he’s instructed US officials to reopen Venezuelan airspace for commercial travel During a Cabinet meeting, President Trump says he’s ordering the U.S. to reopen commercial airspace over Venezuela. While the State Department continued to warning Americans against traveling to Venezuela, at least one U.S. airline announced its intention to soon resume direct flights between the countries.American Airlines was the last U.S. airline flying to Venezuela when it suspended flights in 2019 that it operated between Miami and the capital, Caracas, as well as the oil hub city of Maracaibo. The airline said Thursday it would share additional details about the return to service in the coming months as it works with federal authorities on security assessments and necessary permissions. “We have a more than 30-year history connecting Venezolanos to the U.S., and we are ready to renew that incredible relationship,” Nat Pieper, American’s chief commercial officer, said in a statement. “By restarting service to Venezuela, American will offer customers the opportunity to reunite with families and create new business and commerce with the United States.” Before Venezuela came undone in the mid-2010s, it was not uncommon for Venezuelans to take weekend leisure trips to Miami. U.S. airlines stopped flying to Venezuela before the Department of Homeland Security in 2019 ordered an indefinite suspension, arguing that conditions in Venezuela threatened the “safety and security of passengers, aircraft, and crew.” Earlier this week, Trump’s administration notified Congress that it was taking the first steps to possibly reopen the shuttered U.S. Embassy in Caracas as it explores restoring relations with the country after the U.S. military raid that ousted then-President Nicolás Maduro. In a notice to lawmakers dated Monday and obtained by The Associated Press, the State Department said it was sending in a regular and growing contingent of temporary staffers to conduct “select” diplomatic functions. “We are writing to notify the committee of the Department of State’s intent to implement a phased approach to potentially resume Embassy Caracas operations,” the department said in separate but identical letters to 10 House and Senate committees.Diplomatic relations between the two countries collapsed in 2019.Even as Trump suggested Americans will be safe in Venezuela, his State Department kept in place its highest-level travel advisory: “Do not travel,” a warning of a high risk of wrongful detention, torture, kidnapping and more.The department did not immediately respond to a message inquiring whether it would be changing that warning.