PORT-AU-PRINCE— American Airlines’ indefinite suspension of flights to Haiti, announced Dec. 9, has sparked widespread criticism, with Haitians blaming government inaction for the escalating violence that has rendered air travel unsafe. The decision comes after a November incident where planes servicing Port-au-Prince were struck by gunfire. Gang violence has displaced over 50,000 people and claimed more than 360 lives in the capital in the past month alone, contributing to a staggering 5,000 deaths nationwide this year.
The suspension, which follows a Nov. 11 incident in which planes of all three U.S.-based commercial carriers servicing Port-au-Prince, including American Airlines, Jetblue Airways, and Spirit Airlines, were struck by gunfire, reflects the deteriorating security situation in the Haitian capital. Despite the government’s promise to address safety concerns and improve security after the initial halt, the situation in Port-au-Prince has not improved.
“This is a blow not only to the country but also to those who live between Haiti and the United States,” said Jameson Barthol, a Florida resident, highlighting a potential increase in ticket prices when fewer airline companies resume service.
“Certainly, this is not the first time this has happened, but unfortunately, there is no state leader taking responsibility for the insecurity and saying that this is how we will resolve this. We not only have Toussaint Louverture International Airport, but we also have Cap-Haitien Airport, yet no one in Haiti is taking responsibility.”
Frustrated, Barthol pointed out the fact that American Airlines didn’t even choose to service Haiti through the safer Hugo Chavez International Airport in Cap-Haïtien and far from criminal gang activties. He said that American Airlines not taking that option signals to the Haitian government that the country is a lawless nation with no leaders capable of managing the nation’s essential services.
The Haitian authorities, including the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) led by Leslie Voltaire, the government led by Prime Minister Aleix Didier Fils-Aimé, the PNH, and the National Office of Civil Aviation (OFNAC), have not communicated any information regarding American Airlines’ decision to suspend its air operations to Haiti indefinitely.
The ban on U.S. flights to Port-au-Prince remains in place as violence in the capital continues and calls intensify to equip police against armed gangs.
The officials have also not announced any measures to ensure the security of Toussaint Louverture International Airport. They have yet to respond to The Haitian Times‘ requests for comment on the matter.
Suspension tied solely to escalating violence or else?
American Airlines’ long-standing service to Haiti has been considerably reducing in recent years. That service reduction has culminated in the suspension of its sole remaining route comprising daily flights between Miami International Aiport and Port-au-Prince Toussaint Louverture International Airport (MIA-PAP).
Indeed, American Airlines’ leadership team announced its decision to halt services to Haiti indefinitely, citing safety concerns. While refunds are being offered to affected customers, the airline emphasized its commitment to evaluating conditions before resuming operations, likely not before late 2025.
Since Nov. 11, American Airlines, JetBlue and Spirit Airlines, truck by gang gunfire, have suspended their flights to Haiti following a travel ban issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) until Dec. 12. This wave of gang violence also forced the Haitian authorities to completely shutdown the Toussaint Louverture International Airport until Nov. 18. However, air operations have yet to resume after that date, not even local flights.
Though the FAA has since allowed flights to Cap-Haïtien Airport, major carriers other than Haiti’s owned Sunrise Airways have still refrained from resuming service to the country.
American Airlines did not respond to The Haitian Times request to address specific questions regarding whether its decision to suspend flights was influenced solely by insecurity at Toussaint Louverture International Airport or if other factors played a role, given that flights to northern Haiti remain operational. JetBlue and Spirit Airlines, the two other U.S. carriers that also suspended flights to Haiti following the Nov. 11 incidents, also did not respond to requests for comment on their plans to resume operations.
Despite the lack of communication, JetBlue’s site shows flights from Fort Lauderdale to Port-au-Prince available starting Feb. 13, 2025. Similarly, Spirit Airlines lists bookings for flights to resume on April 9, 2025. Both carriers’ tentative timelines offer a glimmer of hope for Haitian travelers, though concerns about security and rising ticket prices remain.
Impact on Haitians and rising ticket prices
Flight suspensions have left many Haitians stranded and worried about rising travel costs. Barthol noted that ticket prices for flights resuming with other carriers, such as JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines, are already climbing.
For instance, according to their sites, Jetblue and Spirit Airlines plan to resume flights in February and April 2025, with roundtrip ticket prices ranging from $487 to $572 on Spirit and $95 to $158 on Jetblue. However, for passengers booking their flights from Port-au-Prince to Fort Lauderdale, ticket prices go from $801 to $886 to fly with Spirit Airlines and $161 to $227 with Jetblue Airways. These increases are attributed to limited service availability and the challenges of operating in a volatile environment.
“Don’t be surprised if ticket prices double again,” Barthol said, referencing the previous price spike last year and when airlines resumed limited service earlier this year after suspension for similar security incidents.
Widespread criticism of Haitian leadership continues in the face of rampant insecurity
Comedian Gaëlle Bien-Aimé commented on X that the situation highlights how a country cannot function on luck. Airlines can’t take unnecessary risks to put their passengers’ and employees’ lives in danger, she explains.
“They shot at the plane once, then a second time, and that’s too much. It’s us [Haitians] who live in chaos, with few choices, and are forced to rely on luck. But no one operates that way, and a country cannot be run like that,” she added.
Jane Guito, a Virginia resident, echoed these sentiments, urging Haitian authorities to act decisively to restore confidence among international carriers. “It’s a difficult decision to accept, especially for those with families in Haiti,” Guito said.
The flight suspension is just one symptom of Haiti’s deepening crisis. Over 50,000 people have been displaced and over 360 killed in Port-au-Prince in the past month alone. These killings bring the total to more than 5,000 this year, primarily due to gang violence.
“This is a blow not only to the country but also to those who live between Haiti and the United States.”
Jameson Barthol, A Florida Resident
In response, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé has promised a crackdown on armed groups, stating, “Every resource, every state institution will be mobilized to restore peace and security.” However, critics argue that these promises have become customary and have yet to materialize into meaningful action.
Meanwhile, as Christmas and the end of the year approach, the security situation shows no signs of improvement. The latest massacre carried out by the Warf Jérémie gang last weekend that resulted in over 184 deaths in Port-au-Prince’s Cité Soleil slum, including several people over 60 years old without any form of response from the country’s law enforcement, is very telling.
On Tuesday, some media reported that the number of victims from the bloodbath orchestrated by Monel “Micanord” Félix-led gang could have even exceeded 200. Given this level of violence, Haiti’s airspace is also not spared.
The Haitian National Police (PNH), supported by the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, is multiplying its various interventions, but they remain insufficient to many people who are calling for more vigorous law enforcement actions against the brutal gangs controlling most of Port-au-Prince and its surrounding areas.
Yo tire sou avyon yon fwa. Yo tire sou avyon 2 fwa e sa twòp. Mwen te konnen gen liy ayeryèn ki t ap tou anile vòl yo sou pòtoprens, moun yo pa nan pran chans, se nou k pa gen chwa n ap pran chans. Moun pa fonksyone konsa, peyi pa fèt konsa
In the aftermath of the Dec. 7-8 massacre, the most Haitian people have heard from the government so far is a statement issued on Monday promising retribution.
“The government reaffirms its total and irrevocable commitment to eradicating the criminal armed groups that spread terror and sabotage the foundations of our nation. Every resource, every state institution will be mobilized to restore peace and security,” the statement read.
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