Venezuela’s main international airport is beginning to welcome commercial flights again, nearly 10 weeks after two earthquakes forced it to shut down. Simón Bolívar International Airport (CCS), located near Caracas, has partially resumed operations, but travelers returning to the airport will find something very different from the terminal they left behind; part of the airport’s temporary operations are being handled from a facility built in its parking area.
A Temporary Terminal
The airport closed to regular commercial operations after twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, severely damaged the airport’s runways, control tower and passenger and cargo facilities. According to recent numbers published by The Associated Press, this disaster killed more than 6,500 people and left nearly 17,900 homeless.
CCS airport authorities built a temporary facility covering approximately 10,000 square meters to jump-start travel. This structure includes check-in counters, air-conditioned waiting areas, free Wi-Fi, medical services, and restrooms. Passengers are transported by bus between the temporary terminal and their aircraft.
The airport notes that the temporary facility can handle up to 2,168 passengers per day. While commercial operations are still limited, authorities are gradually restoring the airport’s pre-earthquake schedules.
“We hope that with this initial phase of operations we will recover 25% of the operations we had before the earthquake,” Venezuelan Transportation Minister Francisco Garcés told reporters on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026.
Garcés added that authorities plan to increase operations gradually, reaching 40% in the coming months and approximately 60% by the end of the year.
What Travelers Can Expect
The reopening brings back both domestic and international connections, but travelers should not expect schedules to immediately return to normal.
Airlines are restarting service at different times and frequencies. Reports indicate that carriers including Laser Airlines, Copa Airlines, Air Europa and Avianca are scheduled to resume or restore Caracas service around the reopening, while American Airlines is expected to restart Miami-Caracas flights on Sep. 3, 2026.
For now, the temporary terminal represents an important step toward reconnecting Venezuela’s capital with the international aviation network. With the permanent airport still under repair, checking in inside temporary structures in a parking area will remain part of the Caracas travel experience for the foreseeable future.
Share your thoughts on the reopening and your experiences with temporary airport facilities in the comments below!
