Brazil and Venezuela will operate their first direct flight in eight years this Tuesday (Aug. 5), reconnecting the two countries. The route meets a demand from the 271,000 Venezuelans living in Brazil and aims to stimulate tourism and trade between the neighbors.
The flights will be operated by Brazilian airline Gol. On the company’s website, one-way tickets average around US$920 (Caracas–São Paulo) and US$220 (São Paulo–Caracas). Previously, travelers paid at least US$1,500 with layovers. The non-stop flight takes about six hours.
The inaugural flight departs São Paulo’s Guarulhos Airport at 5:05 p.m. and is expected to land in Caracas at 10:10 p.m. (Caracas local time). In total, four flights per week will operate between the countries on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Brazilian diplomacy in Caracas welcomed the move. Breno Hermann, acting ambassador for negotiations at Brazil’s embassy in Venezuela, said the resumption is very positive for commerce, tourism, and bilateral relations.
“We are very happy because these are two neighboring countries with historic relations, but no direct flights. It didn’t make sense. This will encourage tourism and business on both sides. Venezuelans have much to seek in Brazil and vice versa. Also, connection is fundamental for relations, people being able to come and go, both private and government actors, is a great sign”, Hermann told BdF.
The demand is driven by the Venezuelan community in Brazil, which grew from 3,000 in 2010 to 271,500 in 2022, making it the largest foreign community in the country. This migration surge is tied to U.S. sanctions on Venezuela since 2015, which triggered economic collapse and mass emigration. In this context, the flights are expected to primarily serve family reunions, both for migrants traveling to Venezuela and for relatives visiting Brazil.
Seasonal travel and market impact
Venezuelan aviation lawyer Rodolfo Ruiz noted that the flights begin during Venezuela’s August school holidays, a peak travel period. He expects demand to rise around vacation seasons and December holidays. “Venezuela has become a country that exports migrants. Communities have been established in many countries, including Brazil. That created a demand during a period when flights were cut. It’s a seasonal, round-trip traffic, holidays, school breaks, December. That alone justifies it commercially”, he said.
Gol expects 600 to 800 passengers per week and aims to sell 80% of tickets on each flight.
The resumption is a business initiative by Gol, as no formal government ban existed. According to sources heard by BdF, other factors also influenced the decision, such as regional connectivity. Caracas currently has no direct flights to Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, or Chile. São Paulo’s Guarulhos hub, with daily flights to 35 countries, will serve as a gateway for Venezuelan travelers, also facilitating connections to Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Venezuela remains one of the world’s most isolated destinations. It currently has direct flights to Cuba, Bolivia, Colombia, Saint Lucia, Panama, Curaçao, Turkey, Portugal, Spain, Russia, China and the Dominican Republic. The last two countries resumed flights in June 2025 after suspending connections following the 2024 Venezuelan presidential election, which re-elected Nicolás Maduro for a third term.
In July 2024, Venezuela had about 181 international flights per week. After the election and diplomatic backlash, that number dropped to 83, reducing passenger traffic by 15,000 travelers per week. Latam Airlines, which had ceased operations in the country, resumed flights to Bogotá in 2025, bringing the weekly average to 100 flights by May.
After the election, a bloc of 10 right-leaning countries – Argentina, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay – challenged the election results. The Venezuelan government labeled the alliance a “new Lima Group”, cut diplomatic ties, and suspended flights to these nations.
Flights were canceled through a Notam (Notice to Airmen), valid for one month starting July 31, later renewed. Panama responded with its own three-month Notam, extending restrictions through November. Notam is an official notice issued by aviation authorities to temporarily change air operations, including flight bans. These measures are generally valid for up to three months.
Tourism and revenue
Tourism is another key factor. Brazil does not require a visa for Venezuelans, facilitating inbound travel. On the Venezuelan side, attractions such as Los Roques Archipelago and Canaima National Park could draw more Brazilian visitors. Margarita Island, once a favorite among Brazilian tourists, now mainly hosts Russian and Arab visitors due to existing direct flights from Moscow and other hubs.
According to Ruiz, the return of flights will bring major economic benefits. For one, lower ticket prices, as fares to frequent destinations like Colombia have already dropped 20% since May.
Also, higher airport revenue – Caracas’ Maiquetía International Airport charges an US$80 passenger fee on all outbound tickets. Four weekly flights to Brazil will increase income for airlines and the airport.
Flight history and political backdrop
The two countries maintained regular flights until 2016, the year of the impeachment of former president Dilma Rousseff. When Michel Temer assumed office, relations soured. Maduro refused to recognize the new government, and Brazil later withdrew recognition of Venezuela’s 2018 election results, closing its embassy in Caracas. Venezuela reciprocated by closing its embassy in Brasília.
Airlines such as Gol and Latam, which already had few flights, fully suspended operations, while Venezuelan state airline Conviasa maintained limited flights to Boa Vista, the Brazilian city closest to the border. Tensions escalated further under Jair Bolsonaro (2019–2022), and U.S. sanctions on Conviasa in 2019 crippled its international operations.
From then on, travel between the countries required connections through Panama, Colombia, Peru, Chile, or even the U.S.. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 halted all flights, with partial resumption only in 2021.
Conviasa later operated flights from Puerto Ordaz to Manaus. In 2023, under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazil restored relations with Venezuela and prioritized the resumption of flights. Conviasa reopened the Caracas–Boa Vista route that year but without regular frequency.
Over the last two years, Brazilians relied on connecting flights through Peru, Chile, Panama, and Colombia to reach Caracas.
