CARACAS, June 16, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Venezuela announced Sunday the resumption of flights to and from the Dominican Republic, reopening the main route Venezuelans take to the United States after it was suspended nearly a year ago.

Caracas suspended the flight route on July 29 last year amid international outcry over what many countries alleged was a rigged election, which handed President Nicolas Maduro a third term in office.

Venezuela's INAC aviation authority announced on its Instagram account "the resumption of commercial passenger, cargo, and mail operations to and from the Dominican Republic."

It did not specify the date when operations would resume.

Before the suspension last year, the Caracas-Santo Domingo route was used by major Venezuelan airlines as a connecting link with Miami -- a highly sought-after destination for Venezuelans.

Sunday's decision follows the resumption last month of connections with Panama, which were suspended the same day as the Dominican Republic route.