First commercial flight leaves Port-au-Prince since Toussaint Louverture International Airport reopened

The skies over Port-au-Prince are beginning to open again, to the delight of many in the Haitian capital and abroad. A charter flight operated by Ecuador-based Aeroregional took off from Toussaint Louverture International Airport (PAP) to Brazil on Tuesday, December 17. This marked the first commercial flight operations at the airport since its closure on November 12 due to Haiti’s ongoing security crisis, exacerbated by rampant gang violence.

With around 200 passengers on board, the Ecuadorian airline’s charter flight symbolizes a cautious return to international aviation for Haiti. However, flights between the US and Haiti remain banned for security reasons. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected to reconsider the suspension, with a possible resumption of flights expected after March 12, 2025.

Despite restrictions on routes to the United States, this successful operation suggests new opportunities for Haitian travelers seeking connections beyond North America. “This is an encouraging first step for us,” said Marie Bazile, a passenger on the Aeroregional flight to Brazil The Haitian period.

Bazile, 39, a restaurant owner in Rio de Janeiro who has lived there since 2011 after Haiti’s devastating earthquake in 2010, was happy to be able to return safely to her three children after an unexpectedly long stay in the crisis-hit country.

Although Port-au-Prince International Airport officially reopened on December 11, ending a month-long closure due to gang attacks, no commercial flights had resumed as of Tuesday.

The shutdown of Haitian air travel after gang-fired gunfire hit the three major U.S.-based commercial airlines that connect Haiti and the United States, including American Airlines, JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines, has not only affected mobility , but also dealt a serious blow to the people already dying in the country’s economy. Experts have stressed the importance of restoring international connectivity to help rebuild the country. The resumption of flights also provides a sense of optimism for Haitians in the diaspora, who are eager to reconnect with their homeland despite ongoing instability and security challenges.

Although Hugo Chavez International Airport in the northern city of Cap-Haïtien is open for business, Toussaint Louverture International Airport – Haiti’s largest airport facility – remains the country’s primary gateway for economic and cultural exchange. As Aeroregional leads the way in resuming air travel, observers will closely monitor how the airport adapts to ensure passenger safety and operational efficiency in the face of ongoing challenges.

Philippe Bayard, founder and president of Haiti-based airline Sunrise Airways, explained how the dramatic security incidents that have disrupted the Haitian air transport sector are impacting his company’s decision to resume flights to and from Port-au-Prince. Speaking on Radio Télé Métropole on Tuesday, Bayard discussed the negative impact of uncertainty on insurance requirements and the measures necessary to ensure the safety of airline operations.

“Following an unsafe incident like this one involving shooting at commercial aviation aircraft, some specific safety measures must be taken before we can safely resume our operations,” Bayard said.

He also revealed Sunrise Airways’ ambitions to further connect Haitian cities and build a regional flight network in the Caribbean, despite the company’s economic, technical and structural challenges. Bayard emphasized the importance of a more dynamic framework to stimulate trade and tourism in Haiti, while addressing criticism of the high cost of airline tickets and customer service.

The successful flight to Brazil marks a milestone on Haiti’s path to reopening and reconnecting with the world. Whether this is a sign of a sustained recovery in the aviation sector remains to be seen. Still, the trip gives hope to those aboard Tuesday’s flight – a small but significant boost for a country in need of new horizons.

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