The first commercial direct flight in seven years between the USA and Venezuela took off on Thursday in another sign of thawing frost between the countries.
American Airlines flight from Miami in Florida to Venezuela's capital, Caracas, departed at 16:25 Swedish time.
Most of those on board fall into two categories: journalists and American civil servants who are to meet with their Venezuelan colleagues – which would have been impossible just a few months ago.
The American military captured left-wing leader Nicolás Maduro in Caracas in early January. Since then, the countries have resumed political, diplomatic and economic relations.
Around 1.2 million Venezuelans live in the USA, and Washington's goals include having more American companies present in the country – which has enormous oil reserves, among other things.
Source: DI-TT.SE
