dailynewsnblog
American Airlines recently reintroduced nonstop flights from 
Miami International Airport (MIA) to the oil capital of Venezuela. The new daily service will operate to Maracaibo La Chinita International Airport (MAR) onboard an Envoy Air Embraer E175 aircraft. This is a historic return for American Airlines, which last served the city pair in 2019.
For American, this recent addition to Maracaibo comes just months after AA resumed services to Venezuela. For Maracaibo, this marks the second route resumption to Venezuela since the re-establishment of diplomatic and consular relations between the two countries. The services to Maracaibo come at a time when operations to Caracas are paused following the destructive June 24 earthquake.
A Daily Service Between Miami And Maracaibo
With the route last served in 2019, American previously operated the route with the Boeing 737-800, 757-200, and occasionally the Airbus A319-100. The resumption of service to Maracaibo will now be operated with the modestly sized E175, which can seat up to 76 passengers with 12 in First Class, 20 in Main Cabin Extra, and 44 in Main Cabin. These flights are operated by Envoy Air, under the American Eagle brand.
This resumption of services to Maracaibo celebrates the airline’s gradual resumption of service to Venezuela and adds to the double daily services AA operates between Miami and Caracas (albeit currently on hold while CCS airport is closed). Instead, most international flights are now operating to Arturo Michelena International Airport in Valencia (VLN).
Operating daily to Maracaibo, the service will depart from Miami mid-morning for an early afternoon arrival after a three-hour and 20-minute flight time. Return flights depart mid-afternoon for an early evening arrival in Miami. The total distance between the two airports is 1,192 miles (1,918 km).
Flight Number | Frequency | Dep. Airport | Dep. Time | Arr. Airport | Arr. Time | Duration | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AA4325 | Daily | Miami (MIA) | 10:10 AM | Maracaibo (MAR) | 1:30 PM | 3h 20m | Embraer E175 |
AA4326 | Daily | Maracaibo (MAR) | 2:10 PM | Miami (MIA) | 5:15 PM | 3h 5m | Embraer E175 |
Additional Capacity Due To A Pause In Operations To Caracas
With Venezuela recovering from a devastating earthquake, flights to Caracas remain paused except for relief flights. This has seen the rapid introduction of service to Maracaibo.
With services from Miami to Caracas currently on pause, they are usually operated by the E175. One of its daily services will be upgraded to the larger 737-800 from mid-August, subject to service resumptions, representing an increase of 96 additional daily seats. The 737-800 can seat a total of 172 passengers in a three-class configuration (16 First Class, 24 Main Cabin Extra, and 132 Main Cabin).
Caracas is served by Simón Bolívar International Airport (CCS), and since the resumption of political ties between the two countries, it has seen a gradual increase in international carriers resuming services to the region; these include American to Miami, and United Airlines to 
Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) from August 11. 
Qatar Airways will also add its first flight to Caracas from 
Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) on July 22 – all subject to airport reopenings.
New Services To La Chinita International Airport
Serving the oil city of Maracaibo, La Chinita International Airport is located just southwest of the city, in a municipality called San Francisco. It is the second busiest airport in Venezuela after Simón Bolívar. The development of this airport has a unique history, as it was accelerated after a flight where 155 people died after the aircraft of Viasa Flight 742, when the McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 hit power lines before crashing into the ground.
The airport has two runways, which include 03L/21R (9,843 feet / 3,000 meters) and 03R/21L (8,202 feet / 2,500 meters). While primarily serving domestic destinations, the airport has a small number of international carriers, which include American Airlines, Copa Airlines to Panama City (PTY), and Avianca to Bogota El Dorado International Airport (BOG), from August 28.
While the service to Maracaibo is clouded by the earthquake response, it is a sign that AA is committed to serving the country of Venezuela and supporting it in relief, while also connecting this vital oil city to the airline’s Miami hub and into the wider AA network.
