Simulated view of the Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, La Guaira state. Photo: MSFS/file photo.
Caracas (OrinocoTribune.com)—On Thursday, the governments of Panama and Venezuela agreed to resume commercial flights suspended since July 2024. This was announced by Panama’s Civil Aviation Authority. The agreement stipulates that operations will restart “under the principle of reciprocity” and align with the “technical capacity of operators in both countries.”
Venezuelan airline Venezolana de Aviación revealed via Instagram on May 22, 2025, that direct flights between Panama and Caracas would resume on May 23, with two daily round-trip flights. Copa Airlines followed by announcing daily flights starting on May 27, expanding to twice daily by June 23. Sources at Venezuela’s National Institute of Civil Aeronautics (INAC) confirmed the deal resulted from “constructive discussions” with Panamanian officials.
The announcement came hours after Venezuela suspended air traffic with Colombia, citing security concerns over terrorist plots linked to the arrest of suspects who allegedly arrived via Colombia. Meanwhile, Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino urged Venezuela to accept migrant repatriation flights but clarified that diplomatic ties remain severed since their 2024 breakdown, caused by interventionist statements by the Panamanian government regarding the Venezuelan presidential elections.
Venezuela Suspends Flights From Colombia Due to Far-Right Terrorist Plot
President Maduro’s administration’s Return to the Homeland Program, which has repatriated for free almost 1.9 million Venezuelans since 2018, faces hurdles from US sanctions and logistical challenges involving US persecution of Conviasa aircraft. Critics accuse some Latin American governments of undermining the program by restricting airspace access and seizing Venezuelan planes following US pressure.
So far in 2025, Venezuela has repatriated almost 5,000 Venezuelans deported from the United States under the aggressive migration policies of Donald Trump’s regime.
Special for Orinoco Tribune by staff
OT/JRE/SF
