JetBlue is launching its first-ever route to this city in Venezuela from Fort Lauderdale before the end of the year

For years, getting between South Florida and Venezuela has required patching together connections, different carriers or long layovers. Now, JetBlue wants to make the journey a lot simpler.

The airline has announced plans to launch nonstop service between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Simón Bolívar International Airport near Caracas, the carrier's first-ever route to Venezuela. If approved by government authorities, the new service is expected to begin before the end of the year, with tickets going on sale in the coming months.

Caracas would become JetBlue's newest destination in Latin America and the Caribbean, a region that's become increasingly important to its growth strategy. And if there were ever a place where this route made sense, it's Fort Lauderdale. South Florida is home to one of the largest Venezuelan communities in the United States and JetBlue says the route is primarily aimed at travelers visiting friends and relatives. The airline expects strong demand from people traveling between the two countries, while also giving Caracas-bound passengers access to JetBlue's broader network of connections throughout North America, the Caribbean and Latin America.

The flights would operate aboard JetBlue's Airbus A320 aircraft, complete with the airline's signature perks: free Wi-Fi, seatback entertainment and complimentary snacks and drinks.

Commercial service between the United States and Venezuela has been limited for years, but is beginning to rebound. American Airlines resumed flights between Miami and Caracas earlier this year and United plans to restart service from Houston. JetBlue's entry would add another major U.S. carrier to the market and give South Florida travelers another nonstop option.

For Fort Lauderdale travelers, it's another sign that the airport's route map is growing rapidly. JetBlue recently unveiled its largest-ever schedule from FLL, adding new destinations and increasing service throughout the Americas. Caracas may be the most headline-grabbing addition yet.