FAA extends Haiti flight restrictions until mid-march as airport reopens

The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on December 11, 2024, that it will extend flight restrictions on US airlines operating in Haitian airspace until at least March 12, 2025, according to USA Today.

The extension comes after an ongoing series of violent events at Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince, which has been restricted to commercial flights for most of November because of an increase in gang violence.

Following a November 2024 event in which a number of commercial aircraft, including those operated by Spirit Airlines, JetBlue, and American Airlines, were hit by gunfire as they were getting ready to land at the airport, these additional limitations were implemented.

Although there were no fatalities, the attacks raised significant safety issues. Following the injury of a flight attendant aboard a Spirit Airlines aircraft, the FAA initially banned US airlines from flying to Haiti for 30 days. However, this restriction has since been extended.

Under the FAA's Notice to Air Missions ( notam ), US aircraft are not allowed to fly over Haiti at altitudes lower than 10,000 feet.

This limitation is a direct response to the growing security dangers presented by armed gangs operating in and around the capital, and it covers a sizable percentage of Haitian airspace.

Following the shooting occurrences on November 11, the FAA first enforced the limitations, with the intention of lifting the prohibition in December.

However, the FAA has chosen to prolong its limitations until March of next year due to Haiti's ongoing insecurity, which includes gang control over important areas of the city.

Despite continued FAA limitations, Haiti's Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince officially reopened for commercial flights on December 11th, Reuters reported.

The country's transportation and tourist sectors have been severely disrupted by the escalating violence in the capital, which has kept the airport closed for almost a month.

The Haitian government welcomed the reopening of the airport as a turning point in the country's economy. Officials described the restart of aircraft operations as a historic milestone for the nation in a statement issued by the prime minister's office.

"This decision is part of a strategic approach aimed at restoring a secure environment and relaunching economic activities," the government said in a statement, hailing the move as a "turning point" for the economy.

The government has put in place extra security measures, including increased patrols and checkpoints, in order to protect the airport and the surrounding areas, Germany's international broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) reported.

Coordination between the national police, army, and a small United-Nation-supported international force commanded by Kenya is part of these increased security measures.

These initiatives are part of a larger strategy to bring peace back to the capital and revive the economy, which has been badly damaged by persistent violence between gangs.

The US State Department has issued a Level 4 "Do Not Travel" recommendation for Haiti from mid-September 2024, citing extensive civil instability and gang violence as major hazards to Americans visiting the nation.

The warning notes that kidnappings, carjackings, and armed robberies are frequent, especially in the vicinity of the airport.

Because of the high danger of armed incidents, the US Embassy in Port-au-Prince has also directed its staff to travel to and from the airport using official transportation.

The airport's closure is only one phase of Haiti's continuous battle with gang violence. Over the past year, the situation has become worse, with gangs seizing control of significant areas of the capital and other essential parts of the nation.

About 180 individuals, largely elderly locals, were killed in a massacre last weekend that was planned by a gang that operated in the Cite Soleil community close to the airport, Reuters reported.

More than 700,000 people have been displaced nationwide by the conflict, and food shortages have reached dangerous heights, UN data shows.

The closing of the airport dealt yet another setback to Haiti's already fragile economy, which has been beset by soaring inflation, a dearth of essential services, and an uncertain political climate.

The misery of the Haitian people has been made worse by the violence, which has also made it challenging for aid agencies to provide supplies.