Venezuela Reset: From Sanctions to Scheduled Flights
April 30, 2026
~7YEARS WITHOUT DIRECT FLIGHTSU.S.–Venezuela commercial service suspended since 2019
7.9MVENEZUELANS DISPLACEDlargest displacement crisis in Latin American history
−75%PDVSA OIL OUTPUT DROPproduction fell from ~2.4M to ~0.6M bbl/day at its nadir
~770KVENEZUELAN DIASPORA IN U.S.estimated Venezuelan-born residents in the United States
150+OFAC DESIGNATIONSindividuals and entities sanctioned by U.S. Treasury since 2017
Key Events: 2015–2025 (hover dots for detail)
sanctions
aviation
diplomacy
political
legal
Mar 2015Obama declares Venezuela a national security threat
+Aug 2017Trump blocks Venezuela financial transactions
+Mar 2018Petro cryptocurrency banned
+Jan 2019PDVSA designated; Juan Guaidó recognized
+Mar 2019U.S. commercial flights to Venezuela suspended
+Aug 2019Comprehensive blocking sanctions imposed
+Mar 2020Maduro indicted on narco-terrorism charges
+Nov 2022Mexico City talks; partial oil license issued
+Oct 2023Barbados Agreement; broad sanctions relief
+Apr 2024Sanctions relief reversed
+Jul 2024Disputed presidential election
+May 2025First U.S. commercial flight in ~7 years
+Frequently Asked Questions
Sources: U.S. Treasury OFAC · UNHCR · IOM · U.S. DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics · EIA · OPEC
Data sources
OFAC Venezuela Sanctions Designations· U.S. Department of the TreasuryVenezuela Refugee and Migrant Crisis· UNHCR / R4V PlatformVenezuela Crude Oil Production Data· U.S. Energy Information AdministrationInternational Air Transport Statistics — Venezuela· U.S. DOT Bureau of Transportation StatisticsVenezuela Economic Outlook· International Monetary Fund — World Economic Outlook DatabaseExecutive Order 13884 — Blocking Property of the Government of Venezuela· Federal Register / White House ArchivesBarbados Agreement Text and OFAC General License 44· U.S. Department of the TreasuryVenezuelan Population in the United States· Migration Policy Institute