New Opportunities for Venezuela’s Aviation Sector
After years of suspension, direct air links between Venezuela and the United States are finally re-emerging. This represents a historic opportunity for the recovery of Venezuela’s aviation sector, according to veteran aviation executive Nelson Ramiz. In a recent interview, Ramiz confirmed his decision to return to Venezuela and actively prepare a new aviation project, signaling a possible new chapter for an industry he once helped dominate.
Ramiz is best known as the former owner and executive leader of Aeropostal, where he spent over a decade at the helm. Under his leadership, Aeropostal grew into one of the most powerful carriers in the region, controlling a large portion of Venezuela’s domestic market, Caribbean traffic, and passenger flows to Miami. At its peak, the airline operated 32 aircraft, served 26 destinations, ran over 100 daily flights, and employed up to 3,000 people, transporting close to three million passengers per year before operations were halted in 2007.
In addition to his work at Aeropostal, Ramiz also supported the development of Dutch Caribbean airline DAE and served on the Board of Governors of the International Air Transport Association. He says the reopening of routes to the United States will have a significant impact on Venezuelan aviation.
“The return of routes to cities like Miami, New York, or Houston is cause for celebration,” Ramiz said. “The United States is the largest aviation market in the world, and there has always been a natural flow of passengers driven by tourism, business, and family ties. Cutting that connection for more than six years forced travelers to pay more and fly through unnecessary connections.
According to Ramiz, the renewed access to the U. S. market will stimulate competition, lower fares, and significantly increase both passenger and cargo volumes. He points to the large Venezuelan diaspora in the United States and the gradual reactivation of strategic sectors such as oil and energy as key drivers of future demand.
However, Ramiz cautions that Venezuelan airlines still face structural limitations. Venezuela is currently classified as Category 2 in terms of operational safety oversight, which prevents local airlines from operating their own aircraft and crews on flights to the United States.
“U. S. airlines will be the main beneficiaries for now,” Ramiz explained. “Venezuelan carriers will have to operate under wet lease arrangements until the country regains Category 1 status.
Ramiz also expressed conditional support for a future Open Skies agreement between Venezuela and the United States, emphasizing the need for fair and balanced conditions. In his opinion, increased international competition would force much-needed modernization within the domestic aviation sector.
“Currently, there are too many small airlines operating outdated fleets,” he said. “Venezuela should consolidate into no more than three strong carriers, equipped with modern aircraft and operating under international standards.
Ramiz also emphasized the crucial role of the state in enabling sustainable growth.