Nigeria and Venezuela are set to launch direct flights between Abuja and Caracas through Venezuela’s national carrier, CONVIASA Airlines, marking a significant step in deepening economic and diplomatic ties between the two oil-rich nations.
The initiative was announced following a meeting between the Venezuelan Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Alberto Castellar Padilla, and Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in Abuja.
Ambassador Padilla emphasized that the direct flight service, which stems from a 2022 bilateral agreement, is intended to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations between the countries. He revealed that all preparations have been completed by Venezuela and that CONVIASA is fully ready to begin operations pending regulatory approval from Nigeria.
“Our government has been working diligently, and we are ready to commence direct flights to either Abuja or Lagos,” Padilla stated. “This initiative is a fitting milestone and the best time to start operations.”
Minister Keyamo welcomed the development and announced the formation of a joint committee comprising officials from the Ministry of Aviation and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to fast-track the approval process.
“We are pleased that Venezuela has designated an airline ready for operations, which is crucial for executing our Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA),” Keyamo said. “This will ease travel between Africa and South America, reducing dependency on distant transit points like Dubai or Doha.”
The new direct route, which would take approximately seven hours, is expected to strengthen trade, tourism, and cultural exchange, while eliminating the need for lengthy layovers currently endured by travelers.
This aviation milestone reinforces Nigeria’s growing strategic role as a bridge between Africa and the Americas, and reflects both nations’ renewed commitment to expanding cooperation beyond the energy sector into aviation, trade, and people-to-people connections.
