President Trump orders Venezuela airspace reopened for commercial flights, nearly a month after the US-led operation toppled leader Nicolas Maduro.
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said he ordered the reopening of commercial airspace over Venezuela on Thursday.
The move comes nearly four weeks after a US military operation toppled leader Nicolas Maduro.
Trump told a cabinet meeting he had just spoken to Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez.
“I informed her that we’re going to be opening up all commercial airspace over Venezuela,” he said at the White House.
“American citizens will very shortly be able to go to Venezuela and they will be safe there.”
Trump said he instructed US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and military officials to have the airspace opened by the end of the day.
About two hours after Trump’s announcement, the Federal Aviation Administration removed its notices warning airlines about the region’s airspace.
The alerts were issued as precautionary measures and are no longer necessary, the FAA said.
“We’ve got this, Mr. President,” Duffy said on social media.
“We are clearing the way for travel between the United States and Venezuela.”
American Airlines announced plans to reinstate service, pending government approval and security assessments.
The US has kept Venezuelan airspace closed to commercial flights since the January 3 operation that captured Maduro.
Maduro now faces trial on drug and terrorism charges in New York.
Trump also said major oil companies were now scouting locations in Venezuela.
Following Maduro’s fall, Rodriguez quickly signed oil agreements with the Trump administration.
Trump has declared that his administration now controls Venezuela’s key oil sector.
