Overview:
The president of Haiti’s transitional council Fritz Alphonse Jean has introduced that Spirit Airways and JetBlue Airways plan to renew flights to Cap-Haïtien, marking a possible increase for air journey in northern Haiti. Jean additionally reaffirmed the federal government’s dedication to reopening Toussaint Louverture Worldwide Airport in Port-au-Prince regardless of escalating gang violence disrupting operations.
American industrial carriers Spirit Airways and JetBlue Airways are planning to renew flights to Cap-Haïtien Hugo Chavez Worldwide Airport, Fritz Alphonse Jean, president of Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council (CPT), introduced Friday after assembly with aviation officers.
Jean shared the replace on social media following discussions with Haiti’s Nationwide Workplace of Civil Aviation (OFNAC) and Nationwide Airport Authority (AAN) concerning the reopening of Toussaint Louverture Worldwide Airport in Port-au-Prince, which has remained closed since November 2024, except for a short reopening in December.
“I met in the present day with OFNAC and AAN officers to offer an replace on the reopening of Toussaint Louverture Airport,” Jean posted on X. “We’re shifting ahead regardless of security and insurance coverage prices challenges. There may be excellent news: Spirit and JetBlue are planning to renew flights to Cap-Haïtien.”
Whereas Jean’s announcement sparked hope, particulars stay scarce. Spirit and JetBlue haven’t confirmed particular dates for resuming operations in Haiti, and the CPT has not responded to The Haitian Occasions‘ requests for feedback concerning the announcement and extra particulars in regards to the assembly with operators.
The FAA has prolonged its ban on U.S. flights to Port-au-Prince by September 2025, preserving Haiti’s capital disconnected from direct American air journey.
The closure of Port-au-Prince’s airport has severely disrupted journey for Haitians, particularly for these dwelling within the southern and western areas. Residents of these areas should cross by the gang-controlled streets in Port-au-Prince — typically paying exuberant charges to gang members — simply to achieve Cap-Haïtien for departing flights.
Aruba Airlines supplied Port-au-Prince to Miami flights, trying to alleviate vacationers’ ache this month however the airline rapidly backtracked its determination on account of gang violence.
“Based mostly on continued challenges in flying out of Port-au-Prince (PAP), sadly, the consequence would be the short-term suspension of flights out of Port-au-Prince till these challenges is remedied,” Aruba Airways acknowledged in a statement on its web site. “We are going to proceed to hunt decision as rapidly as attainable.”
Haitians query Cap-Haïtien focus amid Port-au-Prince closure
Whereas some Haitians welcomed the information, many expressed frustration, arguing that reopening Port-au-Prince’s airport ought to be the precedence. The capital stays largely inaccessible on account of gangs blocking main roads and highways and making journey by Cap-Haïtien impractical for a lot of residents.
“What if somebody can’t cross by Morne Cabrit to get to Okap to journey?” mentioned Hyppolite Beauvoir, a journey agent, referencing the gang-controlled highway connecting Port-au-Prince to Cap-Haïtien. “In the event that they (CPT) wish to do one thing critical, they should open the airport in Port-au-Prince. I don’t suppose making Spirit and JetBlue fly in Okap is what’s important.”
Dawn Airways, Haiti’s final airline, faces criticism however strives to enhance, with CEO Philippe Bayard vowing to fulfill challenges.
Spirit beforehand had Cap-Haïtien to Fort Lauderdale flights accessible for March 2025, however the airline advised The Haitian Occasions {that a} agency resumption date has not been set.
In the meantime, JetBlue not too long ago prolonged its suspension of Port-au-Prince flights to at the least June 11. The airline has not issued any updates on Cap-Haïtien providers.
Gang violence stalls Port-au-Prince airport reopening
Regardless of Jean’s assurance that Toussaint Louverture Worldwide Airport will reopen quickly, many Haitians stay skeptical, given the worsening safety state of affairs.
Up to now two weeks, gangs escalated assaults within the capital and surrounding areas, focusing on media retailers, burning properties, and injuring regulation enforcement officers, together with a Kenyan police officer deployed underneath the Multinational Safety Help Mission (MSS). These current waves of assaults have pressured extra folks to be displaced, companies, humanitarian and healthcare organizations, and faculties to be closed.
“Fritz Jean, cease taking part in with folks,” wrote person Alexis Bylly on X. “Each one in all you [transitional presidents] goes to conferences, however we nonetheless have the identical issues. Am I not proper? When will you guys cease taking part in with the folks’s lives?”
Potential advantages of extra airways in Cap-Haïtien
Though many Haitians would fairly see Port-au-Prince’s airport reopen, the return of Spirit and JetBlue to Cap-Haïtien might present main advantages:
- Decrease airfare costs – At present, Dawn Airways is the one airline working Cap-Haïtien to the U.S., charging between $530 and $730 for a one-way ticket. The arrival of Spirit and JetBlue might introduce competitors and scale back prices for vacationers.
- Extra journey choices – Dawn Airways doesn’t provide connecting flights, limiting vacationers’ selections. Spirit and JetBlue’s re-entry would offer connections by Fort Lauderdale and different U.S. hubs, rising accessibility for Haitians touring overseas.
- Potential port of entry for 1000’s of Trump deportees— the U.S. president continues to develop his crackdown on immigration. His administration introduced Friday that it’ll revoke the short-term authorized standing of over 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans granted underneath former Joe Biden’s humanitarian parole program, efficient April 24. A transfer that would pressure many Haitian beneficiaries of that program to self-deport or face elimination.
As Haiti’s aviation business grapples with ongoing instability, vacationers, airways, and officers might be watching intently to see if Jean’s guarantees materialize—and if Haiti’s fundamental airport in Port-au-Prince will reopen anytime quickly.
The improve of Les Cayes airport to accommodate worldwide flights and the sooner growth of the Saint-Louis-du-Sud port are two key steps towards Haiti’s much-needed financial decentralization, which goals to scale back dependence on Port-au-Prince, a metropolis that has been remoted on account of ongoing gang violence.
Along with the Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haïtien airports, the Haitian authorities not too long ago inaugurated the growth of Les Cayes Antoine Simon Airport within the south as a 3rd worldwide flight possibility. Many have applauded this long-awaited improve, which permits the airport to supply a vital different to Port-au-Prince, the place gang violence has severely restricted entry to the capital’s Toussaint Louverture Worldwide Airport. Nevertheless, the power has but to obtain any worldwide flights.