Overview:
JetBlue Airways has prolonged its suspension of flights to Haiti’s most important worldwide airport till no less than June 11, 2025, citing ongoing civil unrest. The choice comes only one week earlier than the FAA’s flight ban on U.S. business and cargo airways to Haiti is ready to run out on March 12. As safety issues persist, Haitian authorities have centered on increasing regional airports, however Port-au-Prince stays reduce off from worldwide business journey.
JetBlue Airways has pushed again the resumption of its flights to Toussaint Louverture Worldwide Airport in Port-au-Prince, citing ongoing civil unrest and safety issues. The airline had beforehand suspended flights till April 30, however now says service will stay halted till no less than June 11, 2025.
A spokesperson for JetBlue informed The Miami Herald, “Our prime precedence stays the security and well-being of our prospects and crew members. Because of the ongoing civil unrest in Haiti, we now have made the choice to droop all flights to and from the nation by way of no less than June 11, 2025. We’ll proceed to observe the state of affairs carefully and replace our plans as essential.”
FAA flight ban nonetheless in place as safety state of affairs worsens
JetBlue’s announcement comes only one week earlier than the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is ready to determine whether or not to elevate or lengthen its ban on U.S. business and cargo flights to Haiti. That restriction, first imposed in November 2024, is presently in place till March 12, 2025. Nevertheless, with worsening gang violence in Port-au-Prince, it stays unclear if the FAA will enable flights to renew.
Dawn Airways, Haiti’s final airline, faces criticism however strives to enhance, with CEO Philippe Bayard vowing to fulfill challenges.
The FAA ban was put in place after gangs opened fireplace on three U.S. planes, injuring a Spirit Airways flight attendant and forcing airways to halt all service to Haiti. Since then, American Airways and Spirit Airways have additionally indefinitely suspended flights, leaving Dawn Airways as the one service connecting Haiti with South Florida through Cap-Haïtien.
Haitian authorities pushes various airports
As Port-au-Prince stays reduce off, the Haitian authorities has centered on increasing regional airports to take care of worldwide journey entry. On March 6, officers introduced that the Antoine Simon Airport in Les Cayes is now geared up to obtain worldwide flights after its runway was prolonged to five,905 ft. In January, an analogous growth was accomplished at Jacmel’s airport forward of Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s go to.
“Our prime precedence stays the security and well-being of our prospects and crew members,”
a spokesperson for JetBlue informed The Miami Herald. “
Nevertheless, Port-au-Prince’s most important airport stays closed to business airways, regardless of persevering with to obtain army and diplomatic flights as a part of the deliberate Kenya-led multinational safety deployment.
U.S. officers weigh subsequent steps for Haiti air journey
Because the March 12 deadline for the FAA flight ban approaches, U.S. and Haitian officers are exploring methods to revive business flights safely. Earlier this week, U.S. Ambassador to Haiti Dennis Hankins met with Haiti’s Nationwide Workplace of Civil Aviation Director Réginald Guignard to debate securing the perimeter of Toussaint Louverture Worldwide Airport—a key step towards resuming flights.
For now, Haiti’s solely operational worldwide airport is in Cap-Haïtien, the place Dawn Airways continues restricted service to Miami, and regional airways function flights to The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos.