WILLEMSTAD, MIAMI – Nelson Ramiz, former owner of Venezuela’s Aeropostal and once at the helm of the Curaçao based Dutch Antilles Express (DAE), and also a former member of the Board of Governors of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), spoke candidly about the prospects and challenges of Venezuelan carriers returning to the U.S. market — and the hard realities facing the region’s aviation industry.
Ramiz, a long-time figure in Caribbean and Latin American aviation circles, has seen both high ambitions and sobering setbacks in his decades of involvement. Dutch Antilles Express, based in Curaçao, was once a key regional carrier connecting the Caribbean, South America and the United States before ceasing operations in 2013.
In a wide-ranging interview, Ramiz expressed his hope that Venezuelan airlines could one day operate flights to and from the United States, a development that he says would benefit both business and travelers. “As a man of aviation, I would like to see Venezuelan airlines soon flying to and from the USA,” he said. But he was quick to caution that the industry cannot tolerate shortcuts or regulatory gaps, and that expectations must be grounded in operational realities.
Regulatory Hurdles Are Massive
Ramiz explained that all Venezuelan carriers that once held U.S. authorizations — specifically the DOT Part 402 (route authority) and FAA Part 129 (foreign carrier operations) — have had them canceled or revoked. Currently, Venezuela is classified as Category 2, meaning it lacks the safety oversight standards required by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for direct commercial operations with aircraft registered in Venezuela and crewed by Venezuelan personnel.
Furthermore, for years, the U.S. Department of Transportation, under direction from Homeland Security, has maintained a ban on flights to and from Venezuelan airports due to security compliance failures. According to Ramiz, those restrictions remain in force. Reversing them, he said, will require starting the entire process from scratch.
“It’s not enough to talk about open skies — everything has to be rebuilt,” Ramiz said. He emphasized that the regulatory framework, security oversight and technical compliance form the backbone of international air service approval.
Steps Toward Reopening U.S. Service
According to Ramiz, experts see a multi-stage path ahead:
1. Homeland Security and FAA Must Re-Audit Airports
Before flights resume, U.S. authorities would need to recertify Venezuelan airports and rekindle confidence in security protocols. Only once airports and aviation authorities pass rigorous audits could existing restrictions be lifted.
2. Carriers Must Re-Earn DOT Authorization (Part 402)
Airlines seeking U.S. routes would have to secure fresh authorizations, including full financial vetting, ownership disclosure, and public scrutiny of investment sources. “Washington will look closely at whether funds come from legitimate sources, not corruption or illicit traffic,” Ramiz noted.
Even after clearing these steps, the first operations might be limited to wet leased aircraft, meaning the airline flies planes and crews provided by a U.S. or another Category 1 operator.
To Fly Venezuelan-Registered Aircraft Will Take Even Longer
Ramiz stressed that returning Venezuelan-registered aircraft to U.S. skies would demand far more:
- The National Institute of Civil Aviation (INAC) itself must be audited and recertified.
- Venezuelan civil aviation law must be updated to meet U.S. regulatory requirements.
- Each airline must achieve certification from zero, involving updated manuals, crew retraining and rigorous aircraft inspections — possibly barring older jets and demanding fresh maintenance checks.
“It will not happen overnight,” he said bluntly.
Overcoming Years of Industry Weaknesses
Ramiz did not shy away from tough criticism of systemic issues. He described a “black cloud” hanging over Venezuelan aviation — years of express certifications, regulatory complacency and cozy relationships between regulators and operators that eroded trust in safety standards. “There are documented concerns about operations, money sources and hidden ownership,” he said. Clearing these doubts, he insisted, is essential if Venezuelan airlines ever want to rise above that cloud.
A Vision for the Future
Despite the obstacles, Ramiz remains hopeful — but with emphasis on pragmatism over unrealistic expectations. “We should not create false optimism,” he advised. Instead, he called for a step-by-step strategy that rebuilds credibility, improves safety culture and aligns Venezuelan aviation with global standards.
For Curaçao and the wider Caribbean, Ramiz said the return of healthy airline competition — including carriers from Venezuela — could once again strengthen connectivity with major markets like the United States and foster economic growth across the region.
As his career has shown, he believes the dream is possible — but only if the industry follows the rules that keep passengers safe and regulators confident.