Panama president announces first direct "voluntary return" flight to Caracas

Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino looks on at Oslo City Hall before the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony, in Oslo, Norway December 10, 2025. Ole Berg-Rusten/NTB/via REUTERS

PANAMA CITY, Dec 18 - Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino said on Thursday that the first direct flight under its "voluntary return" program will leave Panama for Venezuela on Monday.

The direct flight is due to carry 70 Venezuelans to the capital Caracas, forgoing layovers in Colombia that were previously customary on the route from Panama to Venezuela, Mulino said at a press conference.

(Reporting by Elida Moreno; Editing by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez)