Venezuela okays U.S. request to resume migrant repatriation flights

Source: Xinhua

Editor: huaxia

2025-12-02 23:29:00

Migrants disembark from a migrant repatriation flight at Maiquetia International Airport near Caracas, Venezuela, Dec. 3, 2025. Venezuela has approved a U.S. request to resume migrant repatriation flights, the country's transport ministry said on Tuesday.

According to Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil, two migrant repatriation flights carrying 304 and 266 Venezuelan migrants respectively arrived Wednesday at Maiquetia International Airport. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

CARACAS, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela has approved a U.S. request to resume migrant repatriation flights, the country's transport ministry said on Tuesday.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has granted authorization for aircraft operated by Eastern Airlines of the United States to enter the airspace of Venezuela on the Phoenix-Maiquetia route, said the ministry in a statement.

The Eastern Airlines repatriation flights will land at Maiquetia International Airport near the country's capital of Caracas, it said.

Last Saturday, Venezuela criticized the U.S. unilateral suspension of regular flights for the return of Venezuelan migrants.

The halt of flights came after U.S. President Donald Trump declared that Venezuela's airspace should be considered to be closed "in its entirety." ■

A migrant repatriation flight from the United States is about to land at Maiquetia International Airport near Caracas, Venezuela, Dec. 3, 2025. Venezuela has approved a U.S. request to resume migrant repatriation flights, the country's transport ministry said on Tuesday.

A migrant repatriation flight lands at Maiquetia International Airport near Caracas, Venezuela, Dec. 3, 2025. Venezuela has approved a U.S. request to resume migrant repatriation flights, the country's transport ministry said on Tuesday.

A migrant repatriation flight from Mexico lands at Maiquetia International Airport near Caracas, Venezuela, Dec. 3, 2025. Venezuela has approved a U.S. request to resume migrant repatriation flights, the country's transport ministry said on Tuesday.

Soldiers stand guard beside a migrant repatriation flight at Maiquetia International Airport near Caracas, Venezuela, Dec. 3, 2025. Venezuela has approved a U.S. request to resume migrant repatriation flights, the country's transport ministry said on Tuesday.

A Venezuelan migrant looks through a porthole after a migrant repatriation flight lands at Maiquetia International Airport near Caracas, Venezuela, Dec. 3, 2025. Venezuela has approved a U.S. request to resume migrant repatriation flights, the country's transport ministry said on Tuesday.