American Airlines is expanding its Venezuela service for Florida travelers with a new route to Barcelona launching on Jan. 15, 2027.
The nonstop Miami-Barcelona route will run three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, the carrier said in an Oct. 16 release. Flights will operate with Embraer 175 aircraft, which feature premium cabin offerings, Wi-Fi and in-seat power.
Tickets became available Oct. 19 and start at $529 one-way.
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The new route between American's hub at Miami International Airport (MIA) and General Jose Antonio Anzoategui International Airport (BLA) in Barcelona joins American's existing Venezuela flights to Caracas (CCS) and Maracaibo (MAR).
“American is proud of the robust service we’re providing
to Venezuela and prouder still that we are the only U.S. airline serving Venezuela. The addition of Barcelona further strengthens our long-standing commitment to the country,” said American’s Senior Vice President and Chief Government Affairs Officer Stephen Neuman in the release.
“This new flight to our Miami hub will also benefit customers with one-stop access to more than 100 destinations in North America. We are grateful to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and both the U.S. and Venezuelan governments for their support in launching this new service.”
American Airlines, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, has been operating in Venezuela since 1987. After the Trump administration suspended flights to Venezuela in 2019 during President Donald Trump's first term, the Fort Worth-based carrier was the first U.S. airline to return to the country.
Service was suspended to Caracas in June after a pair of earthquakes devastated the area, killing thousands and displacing many more, and severely damaging Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas, Venezuela's main international airport. American resumed flights in August.
Where is Barcelona?
Barcelona, located in the state of Anzoátegui along Venezuela's northern coast, is a center of shipping, industry, and commerce with a rich history.
There are multiple historical sites, cathedrals, museums, colonial architecture, hot springs and spas, and a massive network of canals called El Morro filled with tourist accommodations, marinas, and boatyards.
Note that this is not Barcelona, Spain, although they share the name.
South America tourism rising in Florida
Florida has seen a rise in tourism from South America, which accounted for 27% of all visitors to the state in 2025, according to VisitFlorida.org. Colombia alone saw a 6% year-over-year increase in 2025, with 655,000 visitors to the Sunshine State.
Visitors from Florida's top source of tourism, Canada, have slowed in recent years due to backlash from President Donald Trump's on-again, off-again tariffs and frequent threats to annex the country.
On Oct. 15, JetBlue Airways added Cali as its fourth Colombian destination from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), adding it to Barranquilla,Cartagena and Medellín. In May, JetBlue also announced plans to offer nonstop service between Fort Lauderdale and Caracas, Venezuela, by the end of the year.
In December, Frontier Airlines is adding its first routes to the continent with nonstop connections between Orlando and Bogotá, Cartagena, and Medellín in Colombia, subject to government approval.
C. A. Bridges is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida's service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: American Airlines adds Florida-Venezuela flight. When, where it flies
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