United resumes nonstop flights from Houston to Venzuela after nearly a decade, airline says

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- United Airlines announced on Tuesday that it will restore nonstop flights between Houston and Venezuela for the first time in nearly a decade.

Airlines officials said that the daily flights will run from Bush Intercontinental Airport and Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas, Venezuela, starting Aug. 11 aboard a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. According to United, it had offered flights between the U.S. and Venezuela for more than 20 years before suspending service in June 2017.

The news comes weeks after the U.S. formally reopened its embassy in Caracas after the restoration of full diplomatic relations with the South American country.

In a statement, Houston Airports said the new service "strengthens Houston's role as a global gateway to Latin America and supports growing economic, cultural, and family ties between the two regions," adding that the city is home to one of the nation's largest Venezuelan communities.

United said the airline offers up to 100 daily flights from Houston to more than 50 destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean.

"I'm pleased to see the nonstop service resume between Houston and Caracas. It reflects the importance of Houston's international connections and economic ties across the globe," Houston Mayor John Whitmire said on the new service. "This route is great and will reconnect travelers and Houston businesses. I want to thank United Airlines and the Houston Airport System for resuming this level of service."

"Houston is one of the most connected international gateways in the Americas, and the return of nonstop service to Caracas restores an important connection to another capital city in our global network," said Jim Szczesniak, Houston Airport's director of aviation. "This route reconnects communities and creates new opportunities for travelers and businesses across our region."

Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning and Alliances for United, Patrick Quayle, said the restored service was the result of a collaboration between the airline and the Department of Transportation.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy spoke on the new flight service to Venezuela, stating that it will "be critical to ferrying oil sector workers into the country as the U.S. and Venezuela work together to expand production and generate new economic opportunities."