Sunrise Airways announced that it will resume flights to Toussaint Louverture International Airport, serving Port-au-Prince, Haiti. It has been two and a half months since the airport offered regular commercial services due to the escalating insecurity in the Haitian capital.
During this time, Cap-Haitien was the temporary base of Sunrise Airways, which, along with Spirit Airlines, Caicos Express Airways, and Bahamasair, are the only airlines operating in Haiti.
The drastic reduction in frequencies, the suspension of operations by a dozen airlines, and the limited availability of seats have raised airfares. Although there is latent insecurity after an armed gang staged disturbances in various areas of Port-au-Prince on February 29, including at the airport, there remains a demand for travel in the region.
Most passengers are diplomats or people escaping Haiti or returning to help their loved ones, as well as shipments of humanitarian aid and supplies.
For now, Sunrise Airways will be the only airline present in Port-au-Prince, while it will maintain flights to Miami from Cap-Haitien, connecting to the Haitian capital.
“Starting May 20, 2024, Sunrise Airways will resume its domestic flights from the capital to Cap-Haitien and Les Cayes, and will also gradually resume its international flights to Panama, St. Martin, and Guadeloupe, pending the opening of airspace to the Dominican Republic,” according to an airline statement.
Sunrise Airways flight schedule
- From and to Cap-Haitien (CAP);
- Les Cayes (CYE); one daily flight with Jetstream 32.
- Miami (MIA), United States; three weekly flights (Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday) with Airbus A320ceo.
- From and to Port-au-Prince (PAP);
- Cap-Haitien; two daily flights with Embraer 120 Brasilia.
- Les Cayes (CYE); three daily flights with Embraer 120 Brasilia and Jetstream 32.
- Pointe-à-Pitre (PTP), Guadeloupe; one weekly flight (Monday) with ERJ 145.
- Panama City (PTY); two weekly flights (Saturday and Sunday) with ERJ 145.
- St. Maarten (SXM); one weekly flight (Tuesday) with ERJ 145.
The reopening of Port-au-Prince airport comes at a time when the Haitian National Police has been receiving materials and equipment from the United States to strengthen its operational capacity.
In fact, there have been multiple flights landing at Port-au-Prince airport in recent weeks, both with equipment for the police and with humanitarian aid.
