May 6, 2025
Cap-Haïtien International Airport (AICH) has clarified its role and responsibilities in airport operations following a case involving the use of fake visas. In an official statement, the airport administration emphasized that it does not intervene in travel arrangements or ticket management. “These aspects are exclusively handled by travel agencies and airlines,” the statement read. AICH’s role is strictly limited to managing physical infrastructure and facilities necessary for airport operations.
The scandal recently came to light with the arrest of Cald Philippe, an immigration inspector accused of facilitating the passage of travelers with fraudulent visas. This case has exposed networks of corruption involving immigration officers and certain travel agencies. However, the airport administration insists that verifying travel documents falls solely under the jurisdiction of the relevant state authorities operating within the airport, including Immigration, Customs, the Haitian National Police, and OFNAC (Haiti’s Civil Aviation Authority).
In its statement, the airport administration reaffirmed that these entities perform their duties “independently, in accordance with current regulations and standards.” AICH thus disclaims any responsibility for travel document verification and distances itself from any illegal practices. It calls for vigilance and cooperation from all stakeholders to ensure operational security and uphold the integrity of the airport system.
