The United States and Venezuela have reached an agreement aimed at avoiding a proposed ban on flights by most U.S. airlines to the South American country, the U.S. ambassador said Thursday.

William Brownfield said officials from both countries had reached a "temporary" agreement involving a visit to Venezuela by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, which would work with local authorities to improve local safety standards.

Venezuelan authorities want the FAA to end safety restrictions that prevent Venezuelan airlines from flying to the United States and had warned that they would decide on March 30 whether to impose a ban on U.S. flights.

"I think our two governments have resolved, at least for the moment, the civil aviation problem. We have reached an agreement, the FAA is sending a technical team here to Venezuela," Brownfield said.

"They are going to work here until they resolve the problem, or at least reach an agreement with (Venezuela's) National Civil Aviation Institute," he added.

Brownfield had warned on March 14 that Venezuelan flights to the United States would be banned if Venezuela ever prohibited flights by most U.S. airlines to its territory.

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