The Federal Aviation Administration (F.A.A.) announced on Thursday that U.S. flights can now resume operations at six airports in northern Haiti, despite the ongoing closure of the main international terminal in Port-au-Prince. This decision comes after the F.A.A. had imposed a 30-day ban on flights to Haiti beginning November 12, following a series of gunfire incidents that targeted commercial jets, including a Spirit Airlines aircraft attempting to land in Port-au-Prince. Consequently, that flight was rerouted to the Dominican Republic.
The flight ban had significant repercussions, stranding numerous passengers globally and halting humanitarian aid flights to the beleaguered nation. While the F.A.A. continues to restrict flights to Port-au-Prince until December 12, it has now permitted American carriers and general aviation pilots to operate flights to six other Haitian airports: Port-de-Paix, Cap-Haïtien, Pignon, Jeremie, Antoine-Simon, and Jacmel.
Haiti has faced extensive turmoil for over three years following the assassination of its last president, Jovenel Moïse, leading to a power vacuum that gangs have exploited. The situation has deteriorated during the current year, with rival gangs uniting to launch attacks on police stations, liberate inmates from prisons, and seize control of neighborhoods. The United Nations reported that gangs now dominate approximately 85% of the capital, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
