American Airlines is set to return to Haiti, offering daily nonstop service from Miami to Cap-Haitien starting November 1. This announcement marks the resumption of the carrier’s operations after halting flights to Haiti over a year ago.
For more than 50 years, American Airlines served Haiti, but suspended flights to Port-au-Prince indefinitely in December 2024. The Federal Aviation Administration had banned U.S. commercial airlines from flying to the Haitian capital due to aircraft being hit by gang gunfire.
In 2014, American Airlines became the first major carrier to use Cap-Haïtien’s international airport after runway repairs. However, the service ended six years later during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Haiti’s Prime Minister, Fils-Aimé, expressed optimism regarding the nation’s return to the FIFA World Cup after 52 years. He stated that the country’s participation is already viewed as a victory.
The airline will operate a Boeing 737 with 172 seats, including 156 in the main cabin and 16 in business class. While flights to Port-au-Prince remain suspended due to violence, American’s return to Cap-Haïtien offers a vital alternative for passengers.
Before ceasing service, Spirit Airlines was the primary carrier to Cap-Haïtien. Disrupted air service led Haitians to pay higher fares with alternatives like Sunrise Airways and Zed Airlines, or routes via the Turks and Caicos and The Bahamas.
“Haiti represents the largest Caribbean market with unmet passenger demand,” said American Airlines. The airline highlighted the Haitian-American community’s size in South Florida, along with significant populations in New York City and Orlando.
In addition, American Airlines plans to expand service to Venezuela, starting daily nonstop flights from Miami to Maracaibo on July 14.
Miami-Dade County Mayor, Danielle Levine Cava, welcomed the initiative, noting this move as a way to reconnect families, stimulate economic opportunities, and further integrate communities.
American Airlines Chief Commercial Officer, Nat Piepe, affirmed the airline’s dedication to providing extensive regional flight options. Currently, American Airlines services 100 destinations in the Caribbean and Latin America, including Bimini in the Bahamas and Anguilla.
Juan Carlos Liscano, American’s Senior Vice President of MIA Operations, emphasized Miami’s pivotal role as a hub for flights to the Caribbean and Latin America, highlighting the significance of the resumption of services to Haiti and Venezuela.