Caracas Reopens to International Flights as Copa and LATAM Return

Venezuela · TRAVEL

Copa flies daily to Panama City from 1 September, and LATAM reopens the Bogotá route on 4 September.

Maiquetía airport reopens to commercial traffic on 1 September, two months after twin earthquakes wrecked its main terminal. Copa Airlines and LATAM have both published flight schedules for the Venezuelan capital.

What changes at Maiquetía on 1 September

The Simón Bolívar International Airport at Maiquetía, which serves Caracas, resumes commercial passenger service on 1 September 2026. The airport authority announced the date on 25 August.

Commercial traffic stopped on 24 June, when two earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck La Guaira state. Roofs fell, runways cracked and the main terminal was left unusable.

Transport minister Francisco Garcés said the first phase should carry up to 33 percent of international flights. He expects 45 percent of national capacity by year end.

Two foreign carriers have already loaded flights to Caracas into their booking systems for the first week. Copa Airlines starts on 1 September and LATAM follows on 4 September.

Copa Airlines returns with one daily flight

Copa Airlines will fly once a day between Caracas and Panama City from 1 September. The carrier confirmed the restart through its Venezuela management on 27 August.

Published timetables show flight CM 222 leaving Caracas for Panama, and flight CM 224 flying the other way. Caracas carries the International Air Transport Association code CCS, and Tocumen in Panama carries PTY.

Roberto Pulido, Copa’s general manager in Venezuela, said the airline has served Caracas for almost 29 years. Before the earthquakes it ran three flights a day on the route.

With the capital back, Copa expects 29 weekly frequencies between Panama and Venezuela in September. It also serves Maracaibo, Valencia, Barquisimeto and Barcelona in Anzoátegui state.

LATAM reopens the Bogotá route on 4 September

LATAM Airlines Colombia reopens the Bogotá to Caracas route on 4 September with three services a week. The operating days are Monday, Friday and Saturday.

Departures leave Bogotá at 7:35 in the morning, and the return leaves the Venezuelan capital at 11:50. Tickets go on sale on 29 August through the airline and travel agencies.

The airline says it will start with capacity matched to the airport, adding more when conditions allow. Before the earthquakes it flew seven times a week to Caracas.

Erika Zarante, chief executive of LATAM Airlines Colombia, called Venezuela a relevant market for the group. Bogotá, coded BOG, gives Venezuelan passengers access to one of the region’s largest networks.

Why the route network collapsed twice

Flights to Caracas were already fragile before the earthquakes struck. Copa suspended the city on 3 December 2025 and extended that suspension three times.

The airline resumed daily service on 13 January 2026, citing improved conditions in Venezuelan airspace. That followed the United States military operation of 3 January in which Nicolás Maduro was captured.

The second break was physical rather than political. The June earthquakes closed the terminal and pushed international traffic to Valencia, Barcelona and Maracaibo.

American Airlines had returned to Caracas on 30 April 2026, seven years after United States carriers left. Its capital service stopped again in June, and it now flies Miami to Maracaibo.

Who else serves the Venezuelan capital now

Laser Airlines has confirmed the first international timetable from the temporary terminals. It lists Madrid, a daily service to Miami and two weekly departures to Santo Domingo.

Rutaca Airlines and Aeropostal have published domestic schedules to Porlamar, Maracaibo, Barcelona, Maturín and Puerto Ordaz. Both post their timetables on social media rather than in one official list.

Avianca, Wingo, Plus Ultra, Air Europa and Iberia were still working from Valencia on 27 August. None of them had announced flights to Caracas from the temporary terminals.

United Airlines has pushed its planned Houston service back to 12 January 2027, blaming regulatory approvals. Turkish Airlines has cancelled its Venezuelan flights until 30 September.

Inside the temporary terminals at Maiquetía

The airport is working from modular buildings while engineers repair the damaged concourses. The international departures hall covers 4,300 square metres, has four gates and holds 780 people.

Domestic departures occupy 3,300 square metres with three gates and room for 480 passengers. A shared arrivals hall adds 2,550 square metres.

Together the structures hold about 1,260 passengers at one time, roughly a third of the old volume. Buses carry travellers out to the aircraft, because the jet bridges are unusable.

Cargo flights came back on 5 August, and staff ran a full boarding rehearsal on 24 August. Laser and Conviasa took part in that test with dispatch checks.

Airlines advise passengers to check in three hours before departure and to expect unfamiliar walking routes. People who are not travelling may not enter the buildings.

Visas, passports and paperwork

Entry rules depend on your passport, and differ sharply by nationality. United States citizens need a visa arranged before departure, because none are issued on arrival.

The State Department says applications run through Venezuela‘s electronic visa portal, guidance updated on 20 April 2026. Officials may also ask for proof of funds, lodging and an onward ticket.

British and German travellers arriving by air need no visa for stays of up to 90 days. British nationals receive a tourist card on arrival and must show a return ticket.

Passports should carry at least six months of validity beyond the trip, with two blank pages. Overstaying the permitted period can bring fines or detention.

Money and safety before you book

Venezuela runs on cash United States dollars for most everyday payments, and small notes work best. Card acceptance is patchy, and cash machines often hold no money.

The Central Bank of Venezuela published a reference rate of 791.67 bolívares to the US$ on 28 August 2026. Monthly inflation reached 19.9 percent in July, so local prices move quickly.

The United States issued a Level 3 advisory on 27 June 2026, telling citizens to reconsider travel. It cites crime, kidnapping, terrorism and weak health services.

Britain’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises against all but essential travel to most of the country. It advises against all travel to border zones and Zulia state, updated on 1 July 2026.

Germany keeps a partial travel warning dated 27 August 2026 and warns that kidnappings for ransom occur. No government has lifted its warnings because flights to Caracas are back.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

• eldiario.com
• primicia.com.ve
• www.lafm.com.co
• www.larepublica.co
• www.el-carabobeno.com
• efectococuyo.com
• cronica.uno
• www.aviacionline.com
• www.reportur.com
• www.eluniversal.com
• efectococuyo.com
• www.eltiempo.com
• www.cibercuba.com
• travel.state.gov
• travel.state.gov
• www.gov.uk
• www.auswaertiges-amt.de
• www.bcv.org.ve

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error