Haiti's main international airport, Toussaint Louverture International Airport, has reopened to commercial flights after being closed for nearly three months due to severe gang violence. This reopening follows significant actions taken to boost security, including deploying soldiers and armed police, alongside Kenyan police as part of a United Nations-backed initiative.
The airport's closure had begun mid-November when armed gangs shot at planes, prompting major airlines to halt flights amid safety concerns. According to Haiti’s Prime Minister's office, "The resumption of commercial flights marks a turning point for the Haitian economy." Despite this optimistic statement, the reopening was far from lively. Notably, there were no flights or passengers on site; heavily armed police set up checkpoints, significantly limiting public transport around the airport. The lack of airline personnel left travelers, like one older man who appeared on Wednesday morning, uncertain about their travel plans.
Just hours after reopening, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States extended its ban on American flights to Port-au-Prince until March 12, 2024. This ban came after two incidents where Spirit Airlines and other commercial aircraft were fired upon, forcing airlines to cancel flights. The unsafe travel environment has caused significant logistical challenges, particularly for those relying on air travel to escape the gang violence.
The Toussaint Louverture airport had previously closed earlier this year after gangs launched coordinated attacks on key government infrastructure starting February 2023. Now, these gangs are said to control approximately 85% of Port-au-Prince, creating perilous road conditions and greatly impacting daily life.
The situation has prompted airlines to carefully assess their operations. A spokesperson for American Airlines released a statement saying, "American has made the difficult decision to suspend daily service between Miami (MIA) and Port-au-Prince, Haiti (PAP)." They indicated they would monitor security and customer demand before evaluating when to resume flights, pushing the potential restart to late 2025. Meanwhile, both JetBlue and Spirit Airlines have not confirmed when they may reinstate their services.
For now, the only functioning international airport is located in Cap-Haitien, which has become the primary air bridge for those seeking to travel to and from the country. Still, land travel to this northern airport remains hazardous since gang factions dominate the main roads. The only option left for individuals to escape is often to rent private helicopters at exorbitant costs, which many locals cannot afford. It has been reported, "Those making it out of the capital have to beg for rides or pay $2,500 for private chopper rides," as the armed gangs create barriers to safety.
The chaos has not stopped humanitarian efforts entirely; organizations like Doctors Without Borders, which suspended activities for the first time due to violence, have partially resumed operations but face immense challenges. Their capability to transport patients remains halted due to the volatile situation.
Tragically, the violent acts of the gangs have led to widespread casualties. Reports reveal more than 5,000 people have died as gang-related violence escalates this year alone, with over 100 lives lost during one recent massacre within gang-controlled neighborhoods.
Tuesday night saw yet another act of violence, with reports indicating over 20 casualties at the hands of another gang operating from the central Artibonite region. With the situation being as it is, the future of travel and life for many Haitians remains precariously uncertain.
The reopening of Toussaint Louverture International Airport surely signals some hope for the Haitian economy, yet the real question hovering above is whether safe travel can ever be fully restored. For the moment, the empty tarmacs and abandoned airport facilities tell the tale of fear and uncertainty holding sway over this beleaguered nation.
