Venezuelan authorities decided to postpone restrictions on U.S. airline service to the country -- including a ban on all service by Continental and Delta -- but did not get rid of the uncertainty for future travelers.

Venezuelan officials now say they will impose the restrictions April 25 if the U.S. does not lift its restrictions on Venezuelan airline service to the U.S. by then.

Venezuela said the outcome depends on whether a new Federal Aviation Administration safety audit of Venezuela's aviation services lifts the restrictions on Venezuelan airline service to the U.S. that have been in place since 1996. FAA officials visited the country the week of March 26 to make that new assessment, and a final decision should come within weeks.

Venezuela has been threatening to ban all Delta and Continental service to Venezuela and limit American to three daily flights out of Miami.

Delta offers a daily nonstop between Atlanta and Caracas while Continental offers daily flights to Caracas from Houston and Saturday-only service from Newark.

American flies to Caracas four times daily from Miami, daily from San Juan, five times a week from Dallas/Fort Worth and twice a week from New York (Kennedy). It also offers daily Miami-Maracaibo service.