NEW YORK — Vacationers welcomed the arrival of Zed Airlines for flights between america and Haiti this month, hoping the competitors for Sunrise Airways will finally decrease airfares and lift customer support.
When Zed launched Could 22, many Haitians had been upset to see ticket costs similar to these of Sunrise, Haiti’s major provider serving the U.S. market. Nevertheless, some say, the brand new airline’s success could rely much less on decrease costs and extra on reliability and customer support.
“All the things Dawn lacks, they should decide up,” mentioned Pierre Paul, an entrepreneur based mostly in Port-au-Prince, referring to Zed. “On the finish of the day, customer support is crucial factor. How will they reply to issues like when individuals are lacking their baggage?”
Paul mentioned he was not stunned fares remained costly given latest developments.
“Gasoline is dear, and insurance coverage prices are extraordinarily excessive due to insecurity in Haiti,” mentioned Paul, 40, who moved from Connecticut to Port-au-Prince in April.
Zed Airways CEO David Jean-Charles was not accessible for an interview with The Haitian Occasions for this text.
Dawn Airways has beforehand instructed media shops that working prices surged after gangs opened hearth on a industrial plane close to Port-au-Prince in November 2024. Its insurers increase premiums on Haiti-bound flights in consequence. The airline mentioned restricted seating and decreased routes additionally contributed to larger fares.
Zed enters difficult Haiti-US market
With its inaugural Miami-to-Cap-Haïtien route up and working, Zed plans to start flying to Montreal beginning June 8 and supply service to New York on June 11. Roundtrip tickets to the Canadian metropolis had been listed round $1,200 and roughly $1,000 roundtrip for New York.
The corporate has introduced plans for Atlanta-to-Cap-Haïtien service, however has not but launched pricing.
Based by Jean-Charles, an entrepreneur, Zed has operated primarily between Haiti and Brazil earlier than increasing into the U.S. market.
Dawn Airways, based in 2010, at the moment flies between Haiti and a number of other U.S. cities, together with Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Boston. The airline plans to launch service to Newark, N.J., on June 1.
Dawn’s roundtrip Miami-to-Cap-Haïtien fares ranged from roughly $668 to $768 throughout the summer season journey season, as of this writing. Zed’s lowest fares began round $796.
Florida-based IBC Airways additionally operates flights between the U.S., flying between Les Cayes and Miami, with roundtrip tickets averaging about $719.
Vacationers say higher service issues
For a lot of Haitian vacationers, frustration with airline service extends past pricey fares. Passengers ceaselessly complain about delays, last-minute cancellations and poor communication from carriers serving the beleaguered nation. Others say baggage usually arrives on later flights with out sufficient discover, or is typically misplaced with out clarification or compensation.
Guivens Appolon, an electrician and dance teacher based mostly in Atlanta, mentioned a Dawn Airways delay disrupted plans to shock fellow dancers throughout a visit to Cap-Haïtien in August 2025.
His flight, initially scheduled to reach at 9 a.m., didn’t land till nighttime. Appolon mentioned he additionally needed to repurchase his mother-in-law’s ticket from Cap-Haïtien to Les Cayes after issues with the airline. He by no means acquired reimbursement.
“That damage rather a lot,” Appolon, 30, mentioned. “The service is poor.
“Once you’re making selections in a enterprise, the purchasers need to be glad,” he mentioned. “Purchasers first.”
Appolon travels to Cap-Haïtien about six instances per yr for dance occasions and courses and to handle Villa Nana, an Airbnb property he owns. He mentioned he plans to strive Zed Airways on a future journey, particularly as a result of the corporate intends to supply direct flights from Atlanta.
Along with Appolon, Haitians additionally took to social media to specific their miscontentment about Dawn’s customer support and hope Zed Airways will differentiate itself.
“I salute this initiative,” commented a Fb consumer from Florida utilizing the username Retrofolies. “I encourage the competitors. It’s the competitors towards completely different airways that can push airways to raised deal with prospects, make the costs extra reasonably priced.”
In the meantime, Paul, the entrepreneur from Port-au-Prince, mentioned he’ll seemingly select whichever airline provides the perfect mixture of worth and repair for future journey between Haiti and america.
“Competitors sharpens your potential to develop,” Paul mentioned. “You’ll be able to’t develop with out competitors.”
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