The United States has raised Venezuela's aviation safety rating, ending a long simmering dispute between the two nations.
The American embassy in Caracas Friday announced the decision by the US Federal Aviation administration to upgrade the safety rating to what is known as Category One.
The embassy said the move comes in recognition of efforts by Venezuela to improve the level of aviation safety oversight.
Venezuela had long chafed at the lower Category Two rating put on its airline sector in 1995. The rating had prohibited Venezuelan airlines from flying their own planes to the United States.
Caracas had threatened to retaliate against U.S. airlines flying into Venezuela if the issue was not resolved by April 25.
The issue had been one of several that have strained relations between Washington and Caracas.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
