United Airlines Resumes Houston–Caracas Flights After 8-Year Absence

United Airlines is returning to Venezuela after an eight-year absence, announcing the resumption of daily service between Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Caracas starting August 11.

 

Flight UA1046 will depart Houston at 23:45, arriving in Caracas at 05:30 the following morning. The return, UA1045, departs Caracas at 08:00 and lands in Houston at 12:30. Both directions will be operated by a Boeing 737 Max 8.

The resumption comes with notable political backing. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy highlighted the flight's role in supporting oil sector workers travelling between the two countries, framing it as part of broader US-Venezuela economic cooperation under the Trump administration. The Department of Transportation played a direct role in facilitating the route's return.

For United, the Houston-Caracas link reinforces the airline's IAH hub as a gateway to Latin America and South America. Patrick Quayle, United's Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning and Alliances, said the resumption will help strengthen cultural and economic ties across the Americas.

The announcement comes days after Qatar Airways revealed its own plans to launch flights to Caracas from July 22, making the Venezuelan capital one of the more notable emerging destinations in transatlantic and intercontinental aviation this summer.