IBC Airways’ Miami-Les Cayes flights grounded, airline says Haitian authorities stall approval

CAP-HAÏTIEN — Plans for IBC Airways to launch Miami-Les Cayes flights this mid-July have hit a wall after Haiti’s National Airport Authority (AAN) failed to sign critical documents, the airline told The Haitian Times. 

The delays, tied to suspected competitive roadblocks and stalled infrastructure approvals, come despite IBC’s $100,000 investment in flight equipment, office materials and staff uniforms for the new route, a source familiar with the situation said.

“Haitians! Betrayal, contempt, ignorance,” a representative for IBC Airways wrote in a WhatsApp message, expressing frustration over AAN’s silence.

IBC said it has sent six letters to AAN requesting permission but has received no response. AAN is the agency responsible for overseeing air travel in Haiti and is crucial for approving airline infrastructure operations.

Currently, Sunrise Airways is the only carrier flying between Haiti and the U.S., as well as between the North and South regions, operating exclusively out of Cap-Haïtien. IBC’s proposed Les Cayes-Miami flights would offer southern Haiti residents a more direct option for international travel, sparing them long journeys north.

The stalled authorization also means that Haitians abroad, eager to visit their families in the Great South, remain limited in their options.

Air travel in Haiti has long been troubled by controversy and lately by insecurity. In November 2024, gang members fired on a Spirit Airlines plane, forcing a nationwide ban on U.S.-Haiti flights. While restrictions were later eased for provincial airports, Port-au-Prince remains off-limits due to ongoing violence.

The government showed enthusiasm for air travel last month, providing an $11 million insurance fund to Sunrise Airways so it could resume local flights. Even with limited service, Sunrise Airways has faced criticism for high ticket prices. 

In March 2025, CPT acting President Fritz Jean announced Spirit and JetBlue Airways were preparing to resume flights to Cap-Haïtien. But neither airline has confirmed its return. Aruba Airlines briefly offered Miami-Haiti flights earlier this year before abruptly pulling out in March.

Haitians desperate for alternatives saw hope in IBC’s plans, which gained momentum after a successful test flight between Les Cayes and Miami on June 13. 

Delays tied to competition and obscure aviation infrastructure, source says 

While the exact reason for IBC’s stalled operations remains unclear, a source familiar with the Fort Lauderdale-based company’s dealings and its negotiations with AAN told The Haitian Times that the delays appear to stem from competitive tensions. The source alleged that AAN may be creating bureaucratic obstacles to hinder IBC’s entry into the market.

The source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the negotiations, identified three key factors currently delaying IBC’s operational launch in southern Haiti:

• A NOTAM publication: Haiti’s civil aviation authority, the National Civil Aviation Office (OFNAC), has yet to publish a necessary and updated Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) confirming Antoine Simon Airport’s readiness for international flights. To issue the NOTAM, OFNAC requires readiness information from AAN, but the airport authority agency has not provided it. Without this step, IBC cannot officially schedule departures to Les Cayes airport.
• No check-in counter space: The airport’s three counters are fully occupied ​​by Sunrise Airways. IBC proposed setting up mobile counters as a temporary solution but has received no response from AAN on its proposal.
• Taxiway expansion delays: Following the June 13 test flight, IBC notified authorities that the airport’s taxiway needed to be widened to accommodate international traffic. AAN agreed to the recommendation but has not begun the work, the source said.

The source noted that IBC is well-versed in Haiti’s aviation system, having been the first company to operate direct flights between Cap-Haïtien and the United States. The company has returned with what the source described as a stronger business plan, shaped by lessons from its 2014 exit, when it was edged out of the Cap-Haïtien market by American Airlines.

Although IBC had aimed to launch operations in mid-July, that timeline now appears unlikely. Without cooperation from AAN, its investments in equipment, office space and staffing remain on hold.

The Haitian Times reached out to AAN via WhatsApp for comment but had not received a response by the time of publication.

The post IBC Airways’ Miami-Les Cayes flights grounded, airline says Haitian authorities stall approval appeared first on The Haitian Times.