American to resume Caracas-JFK route; currency dispute unresolved

American Airlines said on Monday it would restart its Caracas-New York route as of Dec. 17, though it added that it had not repatriated more than half a billion dollars in revenue trapped in Venezuela as a result of currency controls. American and other international carriers have cut flights to the socialist-run nation, which required tickets be priced in the local bolivar currency and then made it difficult for the funds to be reconverted into dollars.  American Airlines, which slashed almost 80 percent of its weekly flights to Venezuela last year over the dispute, said in a statement it would offer service between the Venezuelan capital and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport five times a week, and that bookings could be made immediately. More…