Commercial flights between the nations of Panama and Venezuela are set to restart
almost a year after their airlines halted them due to political tensions, the Civil Aviation Authority of Panama has confirmed.
On July 31, 2024, Venezuela decided to temporarily suspend all commercial flights to and from Panama due to the ongoing civil unrest that followed the Venezuelan presidential election on July 28, 2024.
The suspension of flights was decision by the Venezuelan government, responding to what it saw as international interference or criticism after a contested election.
In a statement on X, released on May 22, 2025, the Civil Aviation Authority of Panama said that the resumption of flights between Panama and Venezuela will take place “under the principle of reciprocity”.
“The reactivation of air operations will be carried out in accordance with the technical capabilities of the operators from both countries,” the statement read.
The Venezuelan government has not yet published an official note on the resumption of flights, but Marisela De Loaiza, Executive President of Association of Venezuelan Airlines (ALAV), indicated in a statement that “all airlines that had permits can start operating when their itineraries allow it”.
According to The Independent, some commercial airlines started promoting flights between Panama and Venezuela on May 22, 2025.
Panamanian carrier Copa announced that it would restart flights and mentioned that its team was in the process of finalizing the schedules. Additionally, Venezolana Airlines promoted a flight set to start on May 23, 2025.
In March 2025, deportation flights for undocumented Venezuelan migrants to their home country restarted via Honduras, as the Bolivarian Government began repatriating Venezuelan migrants from the US.
