A flight from the United States landed this Wednesday at the Maiquetía airport with migrants from Phoenix, Arizonahe first since the government of Nicolas Maduro would inform of the resumption of repatriation flightsin the middle of the tensions due to the military deployment ordered by Washington in the Caribbean.
On the plane, operated by the American airline Eastern Airlinesthey arrived 266 Venezuelansreported the chancellor, Yvan Gilin statements offered from the Simón Bolívar International Airport of Maiquetía, which maintains its operations with limited flights after the wave of suspensions of commercial trips due to warnings from US authorities, which Caracas responded with the revocation of concessions to eight international airlines.
Gil indicated that it is flight 95 so far this year Mission Return to the Homelandthe program repatriation of Venezuelan migrants managed by the State.
Likewise, it is the Flight 76 from the United Statessince both countries —no relationships since 2019— agreed to the repatriation of migrants in January of this year.
The Foreign Minister stated that Venezuelans “voluntarily return from the United States“and explained that, to date, they have returned 18,354 as part of these repatriation flights. Of them, 14,407 came from the United States.
“It is a demonstration that Venezuela is firmer than ever“Gil stated.
Earlier, a repatriation flight from Mexico Citymanaged by the Venezuelan state airline Conviasawith 304 repatriated.
From the airport, the chancellor insisted that the American authorities “had verbally suspended the execution of these flights“and Monday”They requested it again“, after which, President Maduro assured, “without delay, approved“the resumption of operations.
On Tuesday, the Venezuelan Ministry of Transportation reported that the government authorized the arrival of Venezuelan migrant flights operated by Eastern Airlineswho usually arrive in the country twice a week—Wednesday and Friday—after receiving a request from the Donald Trump Administration.
The US president said on Saturday that the Venezuelan airspace should be considered “completely closed”a message that Caracas repudiated “with absolute forcefulness“.
After Trump’s statement, Venezuela had stated that the United States “unilaterally” suspended the flights of Venezuelan migrants. However, from the US authorities there was no announcement indicating the suspension of this agreement.
