Trump Orders U.S. Airspace Open Over Venezuela; Duffy Rescinds 2019 Ban

President Donald Trump said Thursday he informed Venezuelan leader Delcy Rodríguez he would open all commercial airspace over Venezuela and instructed U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to lift the 2019 ban by the end of the day, he said.

The move follows a State Department notice to Congress that it is taking steps to potentially resume Embassy Caracas operations after U.S. military action that toppled Nicolás Maduro, records show.

American Airlines said it plans to resume flights to Venezuela for the first time in more than six years pending government approvals and security assessments, Nat Pieper, the carrier's chief commercial officer, said in a statement.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy formally rescinded a 2019 order that barred U.S. airlines from flying to Venezuela, a change officials confirmed, after the Department of Homeland Security had cited safety risks in 2019.

Despite the directive, the State Department maintained its highest-level "Do Not Travel" advisory for Venezuela and officials said security reviews, regulatory clearances and consultations with Congress will determine whether and when passenger service resumes.