JetBlue introducing historic nonstop route from South Florida to Venezuela
A New York-based airline plans to launch a nonstop service between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, Venezuela, later this year.
JetBlue Airways announced its intent in a news release on Thursday, May 28, which would mark the airline’s first time issuing service to Venezuela.
The route providing service to Caracas remains subject to “government approval and completion of applicable processes” to operate in the South American country, according to the airline.
The companys brings back the service option for travelers who have not had nonstop routes since U.S.-Venezuela flights were suspended in 2019.
“South Florida is home to a large Venezuelan community, and this new route would help connect families and loved ones with JetBlue’s competitive fares and award-winning service,” said Dave Jehn, vice president of network planning and airline partnerships.
JetBlue would become the third U.S. airline, after American and United Airlines, to announce it would operate flights to Venezuela since the U.S. military removed Nicolás Maduro from power in January.
JetBlue has continued to expand its footprint at FLL following the collapse of Spirit Airlines earlier this month. The carrier recently announced 11 new routes out of the Broward airport.
By the summer, JetBlue president Marty St. George said they expect to be operating about 130 flights daily out of FLL, with that projection growing to about 150 by early 2027, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Though the carrier did not specify an exact timeline for when passengers could expect to fly to Venezuela, tickets are expected to go on sale “in the coming months,” the news release says.
