After 11 weeks without direct air links, Spanish carrier Air Europa confirmed it will resume its Madrid-Caracas rotation on 17 February, operating three return services in its first week (17, 20 and 22 February) before scaling up to the pre-suspension schedule in March. The airline pulled out on 24 November 2025 when Venezuelan authorities tightened operational restrictions and subsequently revoked the licences of Air Europa, Iberia and Plus Ultra.
Plus Ultra announced it will follow on 3 March and Iberia tentatively targets 6 April, but Air Europa’s early return re-establishes a critical bridge for the 180,000-strong Spanish expatriate and business community in Venezuela and for Venezuelan nationals transiting Madrid to Europe. The carrier says all tickets issued between 24 November and 17 February can be revalidated without fees, though seat availability is tight because of pent-up demand and because two weekly rotations remain cancelled.
For multinationals the restart is significant: engineering, energy and telecom groups with projects in Caracas and Maracaibo have been forced to route staff via Bogotá or Panama since late November, adding up to six hours and around €400 in extra costs per journey. Mobility managers should nevertheless verify entry requirements: Venezuela still demands proof of yellow-fever vaccination and negative PCR results taken within 48 hours, while Spain maintains limited consular capacity in Caracas, slowing visa issuance for dependants.
![Air Europa restores Madrid–Caracas flights, easing Spain–Venezuela connectivity freeze]()
For travellers juggling these evolving entry rules, VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) can streamline the process by providing real-time guidance on both Spanish and Venezuelan visa requirements, facilitating document preparation such as vaccination certificates, and offering dedicated corporate support for companies rotating staff between Madrid and Caracas.
Air Europa’s move may also cool diplomatic friction. The Spanish government signalled it would support a phased lifting of Venezuela’s reciprocal slot restrictions provided safety audits are honoured. Industry analysts note, however, that yields on the route are likely to rise sharply in coming weeks; corporate buyers are advised to lock in block fares quickly and to review insurance policies that exclude “politically-motivated disruption”.
The resumption coincides with robust winter demand on Spain–Latin America corridors: AENA data show February seat capacity across all long-haul markets is up 7.6 % year-on-year, with Colombia and Mexico leading growth. If Air Europa’s Caracas relaunch is smooth, Iberia and Plus Ultra are expected to mirror frequencies, bringing the market back to 90 % of 2024 levels by early summer.
Plus Ultra announced it will follow on 3 March and Iberia tentatively targets 6 April, but Air Europa’s early return re-establishes a critical bridge for the 180,000-strong Spanish expatriate and business community in Venezuela and for Venezuelan nationals transiting Madrid to Europe. The carrier says all tickets issued between 24 November and 17 February can be revalidated without fees, though seat availability is tight because of pent-up demand and because two weekly rotations remain cancelled.
For multinationals the restart is significant: engineering, energy and telecom groups with projects in Caracas and Maracaibo have been forced to route staff via Bogotá or Panama since late November, adding up to six hours and around €400 in extra costs per journey. Mobility managers should nevertheless verify entry requirements: Venezuela still demands proof of yellow-fever vaccination and negative PCR results taken within 48 hours, while Spain maintains limited consular capacity in Caracas, slowing visa issuance for dependants.
For travellers juggling these evolving entry rules, VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) can streamline the process by providing real-time guidance on both Spanish and Venezuelan visa requirements, facilitating document preparation such as vaccination certificates, and offering dedicated corporate support for companies rotating staff between Madrid and Caracas.
Air Europa’s move may also cool diplomatic friction. The Spanish government signalled it would support a phased lifting of Venezuela’s reciprocal slot restrictions provided safety audits are honoured. Industry analysts note, however, that yields on the route are likely to rise sharply in coming weeks; corporate buyers are advised to lock in block fares quickly and to review insurance policies that exclude “politically-motivated disruption”.
The resumption coincides with robust winter demand on Spain–Latin America corridors: AENA data show February seat capacity across all long-haul markets is up 7.6 % year-on-year, with Colombia and Mexico leading growth. If Air Europa’s Caracas relaunch is smooth, Iberia and Plus Ultra are expected to mirror frequencies, bringing the market back to 90 % of 2024 levels by early summer.
