American Airlines suspends flights to Haiti indefinitely, citing escalating gang violence

NEW YORK— American Airlines announced Monday that it has indefinitely suspended its daily flights between Miami and Port-au-Prince’s Toussaint Louverture International Airport, Haiti’s largest airport, citing escalating violence and safety concerns in Haiti’s capital. The suspension, originally planned to end on Feb. 12, 2025, follows a Nov. 11 incident where one of the airline’s aircraft was struck by gunfire while departing Port-au-Prince.

Spirit Airlines and JetBlue Airways have also halted operations following similar attacks. These other two airline companies have not announced whether they will resume operations soon.

According to CBS News, an American Airlines spokesperson stated that while the company decided to suspend its flights to Haiti indefinitely, it will continue to monitor Port-au-Prince’s safety for a possible resumption of service in the future.

“American has made the difficult decision to suspend daily service between Miami (MIA) and Port-au-Prince, Haiti (PAP),” the spokesperson said. 

“We are proud of our more than 50-year commitment to Haiti, and we will continue to monitor the situation, assessing safety, security, and customer demand, in evaluating a return of service,” the spokesperson said, adding that the carrier will proactively reach out to impacted customers to offer a full refund of their travel itinerary.

On Nov. 12, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also banned U.S. carriers from flying to Haiti for 30 days due to heightened risks from gang activity. The FAA later amended its decision to exclude airports outside of the capital. 

These measures underscore airlines’ growing challenges in maintaining services to Haiti amid escalating violence and instability​, with even the United Nations temporarily suspending flights to Port-au-Prince, limiting humanitarian aid coming into the country.

The suspension has further deepened Haiti’s transportation crisis. Armed gangs now control key national roads, leaving residents with limited options for travel within the country. The closure of major routes and the suspension of flights from and to Port-au-Prince have effectively isolated the country from its neighbors and its provinces from the capital.

Hugo Chavez International Airport, in Cap-Haitien, the capital city of the northern department, is the only other airport that can receive commercial international flights besides Toussaint Louverture International Airport.     

The suspension of flights to Haiti highlights the broader governance and security issues that have paralyzed the country’s infrastructure. Despite repeated calls for intervention, Haitian authorities and international partners have yet to implement solutions to ensure safe travel or restore critical services.

With no clear timeline for resumption, the outlook for air travel remains bleak. The U.S. State Department continues to advise against travel to Haiti, citing high levels of gang violence and instability. Meanwhile, local businesses and residents continue to bear the brunt of the crisis.

While Haiti awaits the FAA’s lifting of its restrictions on Dec. 12 as they expire, the small airport in Cap-Haïtien serves as the only air bridge in and out of the country. The airspace between Haiti and the Dominican Republic is still closed, and the Bahamas suspended flights into the country. The only direct service to the U.S. currently is via Haiti-owned Sunrise Airways, a costly proposal.

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