December 22, 2024
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has extended the ban on American commercial and cargo flights to Port-au-Prince until March 12, 2025. This decision comes despite Haitian authorities reopening domestic terminals previously closed due to armed attacks on commercial planes.
The November 11 attack, during which armed gangs fired at several flights, initially prompted the ban. While passengers remained unharmed, a flight attendant sustained minor injuries, heightening concerns about air travel safety in Haiti.
International airlines, including American Airlines, JetBlue, and Spirit Airlines, have indefinitely suspended their flights. Meanwhile, local airline Sunrise Airways has cautiously resumed domestic flights but remains worried about insurance costs and inadequate airport security.
Gang-related violence continues to plague the country, claiming 5,000 lives since the beginning of the year, according to the UN. This instability has also led to recent massacres and deadly attacks on national roads, further exacerbating the crisis.
With several airports closed and roads blocked by floods, travel remains nearly impossible. Cap-Haïtien Airport, still operational, provides a limited alternative, as Haitians face increasing isolation both within and outside the country.