Business aviation access to Venezuela has shifted for U.S. operators. Operations are now possible under specific conditions, but this is not a return to normal operating freedom.

The Current Sanctions Environment

For U.S. operators, Venezuela remains a sanctioned environment governed by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

OFAC maintains a broad and evolving sanctions program targeting the Venezuelan government, state-owned entities, including PDVSA, and designated individuals and sectors. These restrictions impact who you can transact with, how payments are made, and what services can be arranged.

U.S. persons are still broadly prohibited from engaging with sanctioned entities, aircraft, or vessels.

Refer to the official OFAC program here.

What’s Actually Allowed Now

Venezuela itself is not fully sanctioned, and travel to and from the country is permitted.

Recent OFAC general licenses issued in 2026 authorize specific categories of activity, particularly tied to oil, gas, and certain government-related operations.

These licenses allow transactions that are “ordinarily incident and necessary” to approved activities, including certain operational and aviation-related services.

For U.S. operators, this creates a path to conduct missions that were previously not supportable.

Review current general licenses here.

What Determines Whether a Trip Is Supportable

Authorization drives everything.

If a flight is backed by a valid U.S. government authorization or qualifies under an applicable general license, operators can move forward with full trip support, including:

• Ground handling
• Permits
• Fuel coordination
• Crew and passenger services

If that authorization is not in place, support options become limited. In those cases, operators should expect planning support only, without the ability to arrange services on the ground.

This is the key dividing line for operations into Venezuela.

What Still Creates Risk

The underlying restrictions have not gone away.

U.S. operators must still ensure:

• No involvement with sanctioned individuals, entities, aircraft, or vessels
• Payment flows comply with current restrictions
• No exposure to prohibited sectors or counterparties
• No links to restricted jurisdictions (e.g., Russia, China, Iran, Cuba, North Korea)

These constraints directly impact trip feasibility and service execution.

Operational Reality

For U.S. operators, Venezuela is accessible, but tightly controlled.

Expect:

• Pre-approval before services can be arranged
• Clear documentation of trip purpose
• Additional coordination across all providers
• Longer lead times than typical international operations

Sanctions and licenses remain subject to change, so conditions can shift quickly.

What Good Planning Looks Like

Start with the legal basis of the trip.

Confirm authorization early. Align all services to that approval. Build in time for validation and coordination.

For U.S. operators, Venezuela is not a plug-and-play destination. It is an approval-driven environment where planning discipline determines whether the trip works.

How Universal Can Support Your Mission

Universal Aviation Venezuela is a U.S.-owned company that operates in compliance with applicable U.S. laws and has maintained continuous operations in Venezuela for more than 40 years.

Operating to Venezuela requires the right validation, coordination, and timing.

Universal supports U.S. operators by aligning trip requirements with current authorization frameworks, coordinating services once approvals are in place, and helping avoid planning gaps that can delay or limit operations.

Through our network, we can also coordinate with Universal Aviation Venezuela, which maintains an established presence at Simón Bolívar International Airport (SVMI) and supports operations across the country.

Early engagement is key. If you have an upcoming mission involving Venezuela, contact your Universal Trip Support team to review requirements and determine the best path forward.