Venezuela airports cleared by US safety inspection ahead of expanded flights

Venezuelan Transport Minister Jacqueline Faría announced that the U.S. Transportation Security Administration conducted successful technical inspections at Maracaibo’s La Chinita Airport and Barcelona Airport. Both facilities met the international safety standards required for the resumption and expansion of commercial air services between Venezuela and the United States.

The inspections paved the way for airlines to apply for new routes. United Airlines confirmed it will restart direct flights between Houston and Caracas in August, ending a suspension that began in 2017. Faría also noted that easing of U.S. sanctions has opened possibilities for acquiring aircraft spare parts, supporting the broader revival of Venezuela’s air connectivity.

The move follows the official restoration of air links in April after a seven‑year hiatus and reflects ongoing diplomatic rapprochement between Caracas and Washington.