The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has extended the ban on flights for U.S. commercial airlines to Haiti until September 3, 2026. This decision, made due to persistent security instability, has kept Haiti in a state of air isolation since November 2024.

Initially limited to Port-au-Prince, the restriction has been expanded by the FAA. The restricted airspace now encompasses areas of the Central and Artibonite departments. The FAA justifies this expansion by citing the movement of gangs toward the north of the capital, thus increasing the risk of small arms fire against aircraft at low altitudes (below 10,000 feet). The advisory highlights the inability of Haitian security forces to secure the approach corridors and the perimeter of Toussaint Louverture International Airport.

Haiti's isolation is not limited to U.S. airlines. France, the United Kingdom, and Canada strongly recommend avoiding the capital's airport or not flying at low altitudes.

Furthermore, the Dominican Republic has maintained the closure of its air borders with Haiti, suspending passenger and cargo flights until at least March 28, 2026.

The current ban stems from an escalation of violence that began in November 2024, when three aircraft were shot down at or near Port-au-Prince airport : Spirit Airlines (at least seven hits https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43614-haiti-flash-spirit-airlines-plane-hit-in-flight-by-several-bullets-video.html), JetBlue (one hit), and American Airlines (one hit) https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-43623-icihaiti-insecurity-the-ministry-of-justice-condemns-the-shootings-on-planes.html . In January 2026, two ZED Airlines planes were shot down on approach, leading the airline to immediately suspend all operations, including its route to Brazil (https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46721-haiti-flash-2-planes-hit-by-bullets-reactions-from-aan-and-ofnac.html), marking the end of the last scheduled international flight to Port-au-Prince.

Despite the demolition of houses near the airport to clear lines of fire (https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44228-haiti-security-demolitions-continue-near-the-airport.html), the threat remains. Terrorist coalitions like "Viv Ansanm" now possess Barrett M-50 precision rifles, capable of engaging targets at long range (up to 4,000 meters). The FAA confirms that current security conditions are "incompatible with the normal continuation of operations."

Maintaining these restrictions is resulting in a massive increase in logistical costs, a drastic reduction in freight, and economic isolation that is suffocating the capital, Port-au-Prince, and whose consequences are affecting the entire country.

TB/ PI/ HaitiLibre