The first direct commercial flight between the United States and Venezuela has arrived in the Venezuelan capital Caracas. Thursday's nonstop flight comes seven years after the U.S. Homeland Security Department suspended flights over safety concerns. Flight AA3599 departed Miami in the morning. It arrived around three hours later in Caracas. The resumption follows the U.S. reopening its embassy in Caracas and restoring full diplomatic relations. U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans in January to open airspace over Venezuela. American Airlines was the last U.S. airline flying to Venezuela before suspending flights in 2019.

Air travelers are facing a new reality of higher fees, fewer flights and tough choices about whether a trip is worth the cost. The culprit is volatile oil and jet fuel prices that have been swinging since the war in the Middle East started and fighting near the Strait of Hormuz disrupted global oil shipments. Airlines around the world are responding by trimming schedules and raising fees and fares. Experts say budget carriers and the customers who rely on them will feel the pinch first, but even business travelers and front-cabin passengers won't escape higher costs. Relief may not come quickly even if oil prices start to drop, experts warn, because airlines can take months to adjust fares while they wait for energy markets to stabilize.

President Donald Trump says he's informed Venezuela's acting president that he'll open up all commercial airspace over Venezuela. And he says Americans will soon be able to visit. Trump said Thursday he instructed his transportation secretary and U.S. military leaders to open the airspace by the end of the day. Venezuela's government hasn't commented on Trump's announcement. American Airlines says it intends to reinstate nonstop service from the U.S. in the coming months. Earlier this week, Trump's Republican administration notified Congress it was taking steps to possibly reopen the shuttered U.S. Embassy in Venezuela as it explores restoring relations following the U.S. military raid that ousted then-President Nicolás Maduro.

Southwest Airlines passengers are making their final boarding-time scrambles for seats as the carrier prepares to end its signature open-seating system. Customers on Southwest flights will have assigned seats starting on Tuesday. The airline began selling tickets shaped by the new policy in July. New airfare tiers include the option of paying more to get a preferred seat closer to the front of a plane or seats with extra legroom. An eight‑group boarding structure is replacing the find-your-own-seat scrum. Southwest says the boarding groups are based on seat location, fare class, loyalty tier status and benefits from the airline's credit card rewards program.

Travelers this Thanksgiving may still feel on edge after the historic government shutdown that caused widespread flight cancellations and delays. But experts say staying informed about weather, traffic, and airport wait times can help ease anxiety. The FAA is preparing for its busiest Thanksgiving in 15 years, with over 360,000 flights scheduled. And the TSA expects to screen more than 17.8 million people. Winter weather could impact major airports, so travelers should check forecasts regularly. Packing smartly and arriving early can also reduce stress. For road trips, AAA advises checking your car and avoiding peak traffic times.

Airlines have canceled over 9,000 flights across the U.S. since the Federal Aviation Administration ordered flight cuts late last week. The cuts aim to ease demands on short-staffed control towers during the federal government shutdown. On Tuesday, another 1,200 flights were canceled as the FAA increased its target for reducing flights at major airports. Flights are expected to remain disrupted even as the shutdown nears an end, and cancellations are unlikely to ease right away. The pace of airline ticket sales for Thanksgiving travel has slowed as more travelers have reconsidered whether to fly amid all the delays and cancellations.