American Airlines Suspends All Flights to Haiti Indefinitely Amid Rising Tensions

American Airlines has made the difficult decision to indefinitely suspend all flights to Haiti amid growing safety concerns and rising tensions. The U.S.-based carrier initially halted daily services from Miami to Port-au-Prince through February 12, but the suspension is now open-ended, following an FAA order that prohibited U.S. airlines from flying to Haiti for 30 days after multiple incidents of gunfire.

The decision comes after a gang-related gunfire incident on November 11 targeted three planes in Haitian airspace, with an American Airlines flight being struck by gunfire while departing from Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Haiti. This incident led to the temporary ban on flights to Haiti by the FAA, impacting several airlines and restricting humanitarian aid access.

In a statement, American Airlines cited safety and security as primary factors in the decision, stating, “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.”

Spirit Airlines, another airline involved in the gunfire incident, has also suspended flights to Haiti, with no announcement yet on an extension of its suspension.

The ban on flights to Haiti has had a significant impact on Haitians, with several private airlines and cargo flights also suspending operations in the region. Armed gangs have taken control over key roads in and out of the capital, making travel difficult, while recent landslides and severe weather conditions have further disrupted transportation.

Haiti continues to be plagued by political instability and violence, with rapid turnover of leadership, allegations of corruption, and surging gang violence leading to major displacement and loss of life. Urgent humanitarian assistance is needed to address the growing crisis in the country.