PANAMA CITY, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Panamanian carrier Copa Airlines said Wednesday it will begin daily flights between Panama City and the Venezuelan city of Maracaibo starting Saturday.

The airline said the route was approved after a successful test flight to Maracaibo's La Chinita International Airport.

The service comes as the airline has extended its suspension of flights to and from Caracas, capital of Venezuela, until Jan. 15, 2026, amid heightened tensions between Venezuela and the United States.

U.S. President Donald Trump said late last month that the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela should be considered closed "in its entirety."

The Venezuelan government denounced the U.S. threat as "another extravagant, illegal and unjustified aggression against the Venezuelan people." ■