Maduro. The flight operated by Envoy Air, a subsidiary of American Airlines, took off at 10:26 am (1426 GMT) from Miami en route to Caracas, where the United States has resumed diplomatic ties after years of tension. Flight 3599 touched down less than three hours later. Its manifest included senior officials from Washington flying to Caracas to meet the government, a prospect unthinkable just months ago. Some took selfies as they disembarked. The flight symbolizes the end of Venezuela's years-long isolation by the United States. It also marks the reintegration of the Caribbean country into global airspace after a mass stayaway by airlines late last year, at the height of a US pressure campaign on Maduro. To celebrate, two Venezuelan fire service trucks hosed the plane on the tarmac after its arrival.

Isabel Parra, a travel agent originally from Venezuela, said she had not returned to the country since 2018 and was "super excited."  "For years we had to go through Curacao, the Dominican Republic or Bogota, so having this direct flight is a real pleasure," Parra said. She said the inaugural flight cost $3,000 but that ticket prices were expected to drop quickly, particularly once American Airlines starts a second round-trip daily flight on May 21. Oscar Fuentes, a 64-year-old Houston-based lawyer, was among the passengers queuing to board the return flight to Miami. "It's going to make life so much easier. Tonight, I'll be able to sleep in my own bed!" said Fuentes, who previously had to transit through the Dominican Republic. (Bssnews)