Trump Orders Reopening of Venezuela Commercial Airspace
Donald Trump ordered reopening of all commercial airspace over Venezuela and told officials to implement it by the end of the day.
Overview
President Donald Trump ordered immediate reopening of all commercial airspace over Venezuela and said he had instructed Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Pentagon officials to implement the change by the end of the day, he said.
The reversal undoes U.S. restrictions that the Federal Aviation Administration says began in 2019 and follows an FAA Jan. 16 notice warning of military activity and potential GPS interference in the region.
American Airlines said it plans to resume nonstop daily service pending government approval and security assessments, Nat Pieper the carrier's chief commercial officer said; Venezuelan authorities did not immediately confirm Trump's statement.
Trump said major U.S. oil companies are on the ground in Venezuela conducting site assessments, potentially accessing vast reserves but requiring significant infrastructure investment, he said.
The FAA said it will conduct security and safety assessments and that commercial flights are unlikely to resume for a few months, while the State Department notified 10 congressional committees about a phased embassy reopening.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources largely remain neutral, juxtaposing President Trump’s announcement with official cautions and factual context. They quote Trump and American Airlines, then report the State Department’s “Do not travel” advisory, FAA notices and embassy-status updates, presenting competing facts without adopting an evaluative stance or favoring one perspective.
Sources (10)
FAQ
The U.S. FAA imposed restrictions starting in 2019 due to political instability, military activity, potential GPS interference, and risks from civil unrest and mercenary presence. Recent escalations in late 2025 and January 2026 involved FAA warnings, U.S. airstrikes, and explosions in Caracas.
History
7 sources