Overview:
The Haitian authorities has signed an settlement with Dawn Airways to renew home flights at Port-au-Prince airport, reconnecting the capital with provincial cities beginning June 12. The initiative goals to revitalize air journey and financial exercise, although issues stay over value, entry, and safety, particularly amid a U.S. business flight ban via September.
PORT-AU-PRINCE — Haiti will resume service of home flights at Toussaint Louverture Worldwide Airport on June 12, reconnecting Port-au-Prince with provincial cities together with Cap-Haïtien, Jacmel, Les Cayes and Jérémie. The transfer comes because the nation stays below a U.S. business flight ban.
Dawn Airways will function the flights below an settlement with the Haitian authorities. Officers say the plan is meant to revive inner connectivity, help financial restoration, and sign to worldwide companions that the nation is working towards normalization regardless of the disaster.
“A obligatory step ahead,” officers say.
“That is an development that can enable residents to renew their actions and facilitate worldwide transactions,” mentioned Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé in the course of the signing ceremony.
The resumption is being touted as the primary main effort to reinvigorate home aviation since safety points shuttered Haiti’s airports earlier this yr. In February 2024, flights have been suspended for almost three months after escalating violence compelled airspace closures. On November 11, 2024, airways like JetBlue and Spirit halted operations when aircrafts got here below gunfire close to Port-au-Prince airport. Since then, no worldwide business flights have returned to the capital.
Yves François Ducarmel, Director Common of the Nationwide Airport Authority (AAN), mentioned the restart represents greater than resumed service—it’s a take a look at of Haiti’s resilience.
“This symbolizes willpower and hope,” Ducarmel mentioned. “It’s a collective dedication to reconnect individuals, revive tourism, and strengthen inner commerce routes.”
Blended reactions as residents are hopeful however cautious
Some residents welcomed the information. Jane Manuel, a Haitian residing in New Jersey, mentioned the choice will supply better flexibility to these touring between the capital and rural areas.
“I believe it’s excellent news,” she advised The Haitian Occasions. “It helps individuals who would in any other case be caught. There’s no good time for journey when insecurity is ongoing, however mobility remains to be a necessity.”
Others expressed concern about security and affordability. Djinie Metellus, a resident of Carrefour— Port-au-Prince, mentioned the transfer lacks significant influence with out actual progress on the safety entrance.
“That is an development that can enable residents to renew their actions and facilitate worldwide transactions via the airport.”
Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé
“This doesn’t clear up the issue,” she mentioned. “Airfare is simply too costly for many Haitians. Final yr, a round-trip ticket from Cap-Haïtien to Port-au-Prince was $298. That’s not accessible.”
Officers haven’t but introduced fares for the resumed flights. Moreover, uncertainty stays round infrastructure readiness and repair consistency.
The U.S. business flight ban on Port-au-Prince stays in impact.
The home relaunch comes as Haiti continues to grapple with a U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ban on American carriers working in its airspace. Imposed in November 2024 after gang gunfire struck planes close to the Port-au-Prince airport, the ban was initially momentary however has now been prolonged via September 2025.
The FAA has prolonged its ban on U.S. flights to Port-au-Prince via September 2025, holding Haiti’s capital disconnected from direct American air journey.
Regardless of safety reinforcements across the airport—together with navy container barricades and housing clearances—worldwide carriers haven’t resumed service. Haitian officers hope the home relaunch will sign readiness and finally immediate U.S. and different overseas airways to return.
“We’re working to make sure that business flights to the areas turn out to be step one towards resuming worldwide journey,” Prime Minister Fils-Aimé mentioned.
Home relaunch within the shadow of broader journey restrictions
Complicating issues additional, the U.S. on June 4 introduced new immigration restrictions focusing on nations, together with Haiti, that pose “excessive dangers in traveler screening and verification.” The measure, signed by President Donald Trump, is about to take impact June 9 and additional limits visa approvals for Haitians.
The Haitian Ministry of Overseas Affairs mentioned it will pursue diplomatic dialogue to scale back the influence of the brand new restrictions. Officers burdened that these limitations may worsen circumstances for households and professionals who depend on worldwide journey for survival and livelihood.
“We name on our companions for an open dialogue,” the ministry mentioned in a statement, “to make sure that this determination doesn’t worsen the scenario for a lot of Haitians.”