Overview:
“Males Djèt la!” — ‘Right here Comes the Jet!’ — was the jubilant cry of Haitians within the Nineteen Sixties as Aéroport Worldwide Maïs-Gaté ushered within the jet age. The airport, now referred to as Toussaint Louverture Worldwide Airport, has remained a cornerstone of Haiti’s historical past and aspirations. Males Djèt la was a preferred chant throughout carnival festivities, celebrating the thrill of huge business airplanes flying to and from the Haitian capital for the primary time.
PORT-AU-PRINCE — Aéroport Worldwide Toussaint Louverture (PAP), its official title in French, is Haiti’s first and largest business airport. Inaugurated in 1964 as Aéroport Worldwide Maïs-Gaté, the airport marked its 61st anniversary on Jan. 22. Nonetheless, 2025 additionally marks the airport’s sixtieth 12 months of service as the ability didn’t formally open till 1965 after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorized its operational requirements. From its grand opening to its evolution right into a important transportation hub, the airport stays an emblem of Haiti’s journey towards modernization.
The airport’s development is a trademark of Duvalier’s almost 30-year reign over Haiti. Nonetheless, its a number of renamings and comparatively modest modifications all through six many years mirror the nation’s advanced historical past and the continued battle to spend money on important infrastructure growth at a crossroads towards a brighter future.
Listed here are some key highlights of the airport’s journey over its six many years of service:
Building and inauguration underneath François Duvalier
The Maïs-Gaté Worldwide Airport was inaugurated in 1964 throughout François “Papa Doc” Duvalier’s presidency. Luckner James Cambronne, a strong Minister of Public Works, Transport, and Communications and a diehard promoter of Duvalierism propaganda, oversaw the challenge as a part of a broader infrastructure growth initiative publicized because the “Nationwide Renovation Motion.”
Cambronne performed an important position in supervising the airport’s growth, guaranteeing it met worldwide requirements. To fund the challenge, Cambronne pressured Haitians and companies, utilizing threats and coercion to boost tens of millions of {dollars}.
“We managed to construct the airport, the Péligre Dam, and different city infrastructure developments with out incurring debt,” Cambronne proudly acknowledged to Radio Classique on Feb. 17, 2005. “The People quoted us $6,000,000 for the development. It solely price us $893,000 to do it ourselves.”
Nonetheless, regardless of its official inauguration, the airport didn’t begin operations till 1965 after receiving certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The brand new infrastructure changed Bowen Discipline, a smaller airstrip established in the course of the U.S. occupation, primarily serving the American army forces and later as Haiti’s predominant airport. Its opening marked Haiti’s entry into the jet age, symbolizing its world connectivity and trendy infrastructure aspirations.
A carnival méringue commemorated the airport’s opening
The joy surrounding the airport’s inauguration all through Haiti, significantly in Port-au-Prince, impressed Webert Sicot, a celebrated Haitian saxophonist, to compose a carnival meringue titled “Males Djèt la” (Right here Comes the Jet). The music’s energetic and catchy chorus, “Bon Jan Van… Males Djèt la,” (Good wind… Right here comes the jet), turned a cultural anthem celebrating Haiti’s leap into trendy aviation.
The airport has been renamed 4 occasions
The airport’s title has modified a number of occasions, mirroring Haiti’s political transitions and its evolving relationship with its historical past:
- 1965: Aéroport Worldwide Maïs-Gaté (authentic title).
- 1971: Renamed Aéroport Worldwide François Duvalier following Papa Doc’s demise and the rise of his son, Jean-Claude “Child Doc” Duvalier.
- 1994: Renamed Aéroport Worldwide Man Malary by President Jean-Bertrand Aristide’s authorities in honor of his Justice Minister assassinated in 1993 in the course of the army rule established after the Sept. 30, 1991 coup.
- 2003: Renamed Aéroport Worldwide Toussaint Louverture by Aristide, honoring the 18th-century revolutionary chief on the event of the nation’s 200 years of independence.
Haiti’s busiest and largest airport
Located simply over six miles northeast of downtown Port-au-Prince, Toussaint Louverture Worldwide Airport is Haiti’s main gateway for worldwide journey. With the capability to accommodate 12 aircrafts on the ramp and quite a lot of world, home and cargo flights, it performs an important position in connecting Haiti to the world, particularly to its diaspora.
Modernization and reconstruction efforts
Through the years, the airport has undergone a number of renovations to satisfy rising demand and enhance companies:
- 2010 Earthquake: The airport suffered vital injury within the devastating earthquake however was repaired and expanded to handle passenger move.
- 2012 Enlargement: A brand new departure lounge and VIP space had been added to enhance the passenger expertise.
- Ongoing upgrades: Present renovations concentrate on runway security, safety enhancements and higher facilities. Efforts have additionally included the development of a brand new taxiway to extend site visitors capability.
- The airport was scheduled for a whole redesign by 2015. The ability’s renovation was anticipated so as to add 14 gates to the principle terminal. Work was carried out by China Nationwide Automation Management System Company, which, at the moment, had a number of giant development contracts with the Haitian g
The home terminal, named after Man Malary, serves native flights, whereas the principle terminal accommodates worldwide passengers with enhanced amenities. It’s a two-story concrete and glass construction. Lounges and several other retail shops are situated on the second ground of the principle constructing. Verify-in counters, gates and immigration amenities are on the decrease ground.
A hub for Haiti’s tourism and economic system
Within the Nineteen Seventies and Nineteen Eighties, the airport was central to Haiti’s flourishing tourism trade. Regardless of political instability and pure disasters, it stays a important asset for Haiti’s economic system, facilitating commerce and tourism.
“We managed to construct the airport, the Péligre Dam, and different city infrastructure developments with out incurring debt.”
Luckner James Cambronne, Former Minister of Public Works, Transport and Communications
The airport additionally serves as a significant hyperlink for humanitarian support throughout crises, such because the 2010 earthquake and subsequent pure disasters, significantly hurricanes.
Its renaming displays Haiti’s battle with its previous
The a number of renamings of the airport illustrate Haiti’s advanced relationship with its historical past. Whereas some see the modifications as erasing the legacy of the Duvalier regime, others view them as essential steps to honor nationwide heroes like Toussaint Louverture, who embody Haiti’s combat for independence.
Toussaint Louverture Worldwide Airport stays central to Haiti’s growth aspirations, with plans for additional enlargement, modernization and enhanced environmental safety. The airport represents one in all Haiti’s main historic milestones in the course of the twentieth century and the potential for a brighter future.