Rescission of Venezuela Flight Suspension; Re-establishment of Commercial Air Transportation

Content

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

This notice informs the public that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has determined that conditions in Venezuela
no longer threaten the safety and security of passengers, aircraft, and crew and that it is not in the public interest to
continue the suspension of all commercial passenger and cargo flights between the United States and Venezuela. The U.S. Department
of Transportation (DOT) has rescinded the May 15, 2019, Order suspending all direct commercial passenger and cargo flights
between the United States and Venezuela. DHS is in the process of re-establishing commercial air transportation for passenger
and cargo operations between the United States and Venezuela and, as discussed further below, conducting individual airport
assessments to ensure the safety and security of passengers, aircraft, and crew traveling between the United States and Venezuela
for which the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has received notification from air carriers desiring to commence
service.

DATES:

Applicable April 15, 2026.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Eric Yatar, Executive Director, Policy, Plans, and Engagement—International Policy & Programs TSA-4, Transportation Security
Administration, 6595 Springfield Center Drive, Springfield, VA 20598-6004; telephone: (571) 227-2699; email: Eric. yatar @tsa.dhs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Pursuant to section 44907(e) of title 49, United States Code, if “(1) a condition exists that threatens the safety or security
of passengers, aircraft, or crew traveling to or from [a foreign] airport; and (2) the public interest requires an immediate
suspension of transportation between the United States and that airport,” the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination
with the Secretary of Transportation and with the approval of the Secretary of State, shall suspend flights to and from that
foreign airport.

On June 4, 2019, DHS published a notice in the
Federal Register
stating that the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security had determined that conditions in Venezuela threatened the safety and
security of passengers, aircraft, and crew, and that the public interest required an immediate suspension of air transportation.
The June 4, 2019 determination was based on several factors, including: (1) reports of civil unrest and violence in and around
the airports; (2) the inability of TSA to gain access to Venezuelan airports to conduct required security assessments to determine
whether adequate security measures are in place; (3) the economic and political crisis in Venezuela; (4) cancellation of flights
to Venezuela by American Airlines, the largest air carrier providing service, and two other carriers; (5) the U.S. Department
of State's publication of Do Not Travel advisories, suspension of Embassy operations, and recommendation that TSA inspectors
not enter the country owing to safety concerns; (6) the Federal Aviation Administration's issuance of a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM)
on May 1, 2019, which prohibited all flight operations by U.S. air carriers and commercial operators in Venezuela airspace
below FL 260; and (7) the risk of Maduro regime actions against U.S. citizens and U.S. interests located in Venezuela. Following
Secretary of State approval, the Department of Transportation concurred with this determination and suspended foreign air
transportation of passengers or cargo to or from any airport in Venezuela, effective May 15, 2019. See DOT-OST-2019-0072.

Consistent with statutory requirements, DHS required that the Secretary of Homeland Security's determination regarding conditions
in Venezuela be displayed prominently in all U.S. airports with regularly scheduled air carrier operations. The Secretary
of Homeland Security also instructed TSA to require that each foreign and domestic air carrier providing air transportation
originating in the United States to any person with a flight itinerary that originates in, transfers or transits through,
or has a final destination to any airport in Venezuela, provide written notice to such person advising that conditions in
Venezuela currently present a threat to the traveling public.

Rescission

On January 3, 2026, President Donald J. Trump announced that the U.S. military had launched strikes across Venezuela that
culminated in the capture and arrest of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.

Maduro and Flores were transferred to New York to face narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and weapons charges. Venezuela's
new interim government has since re-established diplomatic and economic relationships with the United States.

On January 29, 2026, the President of the United States directed the DOT and other concerned U.S. government agencies to take
the steps necessary to re-establish air service to Venezuela. Accordingly, the Secretary of Transportation issued Order 2026-1-24
that same day, rescinding the 2019 Order. On March 14, 2026, the U.S. Embassy in Caracas raised the American flag, symbolizing
a shift in the bilateral relationship between the two governments.

TSA has re-established direct communications with the National Institute of Civil Aviation of Venezuela (INAC) and conducted
an assessment at Maiquetía “Simón Bolívar” International Airport (CCS) in Caracas between February 22 and 24, 2026. TSA made
several recommendations to INAC and concluded that sufficient security measures have been implemented at CCS to commence commercial
flight operations from the United States to CCS. TSA is collaborating with INAC to address these recommendations and coordinating
additional assessments at other airports in Venezuela. TSA is currently working with several U.S. aircraft operators and foreign
air carriers to re-establish direct service between the United States and Venezuela.

On March 19, 2026, the U.S. Department of State updated its travel alert from “Level 4: Do Not Travel” to “Level 3: Reconsider
Travel.” The conditions that led to this change by the Department of State were also considered in the threat assessment conducted
by TSA, as well as the overall improvement in the relationship between Venezuela and the United States.

Consistent with the President's direction and the changed conditions in Venezuela, DHS is rescinding its previous determination
and related requirements suspending all direct commercial passenger and cargo flights between the United States and Venezuela.
As noted above, TSA will continue assessing security at Venezuelan airports on an individual basis concerning the possible
future commencement of commercial flight operations to and from each airport.

Dated: April 15, 2026. Markwayne Mullin, Secretary of Homeland Security. [FR Doc. 2026-07572 Filed 4-16-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9111-14-P

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