Madrid and Tenerife to Caracas: Plus Ultra Restores Direct Flights, Expanding Air Access to Venezuela

Madrid and Tenerife to Caracas: Plus Ultra Restores Direct Flights, Expanding Air Access to Venezuela

Madrid and Tenerife to Caracas: Plus Ultra Restores Direct Flights, Expanding Air Access to Venezuela

Caracas, Venezuela / Madrid, Spain / Tenerife, Canary Islands – Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas will restart scheduled flight services between Madrid and Caracas beginning March 3, 2026, restoring key international connectivity that was suspended due to regulatory and airspace developments affecting operations. Initially, the service will operate twice a week, with plans to increase frequencies to three times weekly from April 1, and four times weekly from July 1. In addition to the Madrid route, the carrier will resume **weekly service from Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, to Caracas starting April 1, 2026.

This return of flights aligns with recent steps by carriers to reinstate air links between Spain and Venezuela after several months during which operations were largely suspended. The suspension arose following security advisories on airspace safety that led Spanish and other European airlines to halt operations, including at least through late January 2026.

Restored Link Between Madrid and Caracas

The renewed Madrid–Caracas flights by Plus Ultra will directly connect Adolfo Suárez Madrid‑Barajas Airport (MAD) with Simón Bolívar International Airport (CCS) near Caracas, Venezuela’s capital and major gateway. The initial 2x‑weekly service is being expanded in phases to offer 3x‑weekly in April and 4x‑weekly in July, providing greater flexibility for travelers as demand grows.

Direct flights between Madrid and Caracas typically take around nine hours, linking two capitals with significant cultural and economic ties. For tourism, this renewed connection enables smoother access for visitors from Europe to explore Caracas and Venezuela’s coastal and inland destinations, including Los Roques, Margarita Island, and Andes‑region attractions.

Seasonal Service From Tenerife to Caracas

In parallel with the Madrid route, Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas will restart weekly direct flights from Tenerife to Caracas from April 1, 2026. This route will operate on a weekly basis, offering a direct link between Tenerife’s Tenerife North Airport (TFN) and Caracas.

The Tenerife–Caracas service is particularly useful for travelers in the Canary Islands, a popular holiday region with substantial tourism and expatriate communities, offering a direct Caribbean‑bound flight option. Tenerife’s tourism industry is known for year‑round sunshine, beaches, and natural sites like Teide National Park, while Caracas provides access to Venezuela’s cultural, historic, and nature attractions.

Impacts on Travel and Tourism

The resumption of these routes has significant implications for Venezuela’s tourism sector by reinstating direct air links that facilitate inbound travel from Europe, especially Spain and the Canary Islands — two regions with longstanding cultural and familial ties to Venezuela. Increased flight frequencies from Madrid and Tenerife throughout 2026 will improve scheduling options for leisure travelers, business visitors, and those visiting family.

For tourism, easy access is a key factor. The restored flights give travelers more seamless options to reach Caracas, which serves as a hub for connecting to other destinations in Venezuela. From Simón Bolívar International Airport, travelers can explore nearby coastal beaches, Caribbean archipelagos like Los Roques, and the nearby Avila National Park, while Lufthansa and other carriers maintain broader global linkages through major European hubs to connect to the Spanish flights.

Background on Suspension and Resumption of Flights

The temporary suspension of flights to Caracas by Plus Ultra and other Spanish carriers earlier in 2025 stemmed from advisories and recommendations around airspace safety. At various points, Plus Ultra, Air Europa, and Iberia extended their cancellations through the end of January 2026 amid concerns about safety and regulatory uncertainties. Venezuelan authorities, in turn, had at times set deadlines for airlines to reinstate operations or risk losing traffic rights.

These pressures contributed to a period of limited air connectivity between Spain and Venezuela. However, in early 2026, carriers began announcing phased returns of scheduled services — a key part of re‑establishing commercial air travel between these countries. Plus Ultra’s planned restart of both Madrid–Caracas and Tenerife–Caracas services forms part of this broader restoration.

Traveler Options and Service Growth

The staged increase in weekly flights throughout 2026 reflects a strategic ramp‑up designed to match seasonal travel demand. Increasing to three weekly flights in April, and four weekly flights from July, means more choices for travelers planning trips during peak holiday periods in both Spain and Venezuela. Combined with the weekly Tenerife service, this expanded schedule enhances connectivity across the Spanish‑speaking tourism corridor.

For passengers, the revived service clears the way for planning travel to key cultural festivities, leisure seasons, and vacation periods later in the year. It also corresponds with broader efforts to reopen international travel links that had been disrupted by earlier restrictions and advisories.

Looking Ahead for Air Travel Between Spain and Venezuela

The return of Plus Ultra’s direct services is part of a wider reactivation of air travel between Spain and Venezuela, following months of constrained operations. With increasing flight frequencies and renewed connections through both Madrid and Tenerife, travelers now have more direct access to Caracas for tourism and leisure purposes.

As the year progresses, these routes are expected to support tourism growth, increase business travel, and aid passenger mobility between Europe and South America. For many travellers, the reinstated flights offer more straightforward and efficient travel options to explore Venezuela’s landscapes and cultural offerings, as well as to link further within the region via domestic connections from Caracas.

With this scheduled restart beginning March 3 and expanded frequencies through 2026, Plus Ultra is restoring key international air bridges that help facilitate travel, strengthen connectivity, and support tourism exchanges between Spain, the Canary Islands, and Venezuela.

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