After a ban on U.S. airline flights to Haiti, the FAA has reopened six airports in the northern region for American carriers, while the crucial Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince remains closed following gunfire incidents.
U.S. Flights Resume at Six Northern Airports in Haiti, Port-au-Prince Remains Closed
U.S. Flights Resume at Six Northern Airports in Haiti, Port-au-Prince Remains Closed
FAA resumes air traffic to select airports in Haiti while keeping the capital's main airport off-limits due to safety concerns.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Thursday that U.S. flights will resume at six airports in northern Haiti, a significant step following a temporary ban that had halted operations since November 12. This decision comes after three commercial jetliners, including a Spirit Airlines flight, experienced gunfire incidents as they approached Toussaint Louverture International Airport in the nation's capital, Port-au-Prince, leading to a diversion to the Dominican Republic.
The ban had significant consequences, stranding passengers worldwide and halting vital humanitarian aid flights. The FAA has stated that the prohibition on flights to Port-au-Prince, which has been a focal point of civil unrest and gang violence, will remain in effect until December 12. However, air travel for U.S. carriers is permitted at six northern airports: Port-de-Paix, Cap-Haïtien, Pignon, Jeremie, Antoine-Simon, and Jacmel.
Haiti has faced escalating turmoil since the assassination of its last president, Jovenel Moïse, in 2021. Gangs have surged in power, seizing control of major roads, ports, and various neighborhoods, leading to rampant violence, including killings and kidnappings. The United Nations has reported that gangs now dominate 85 percent of Port-au-Prince, further complicating the country’s humanitarian crisis.
