American Airlines Returns to Haiti Two Years After Gunfire Grounded U.S. Flights
Carrier launches daily Miami-Cap-Haïtien service with an all-Haitian, Creole-speaking crew, while Port-au-Prince remains off-limits.
American Airlines resumed flights to Haiti on Nov. 1, 2026, launching daily nonstop service between Miami International Airport and Cap-Haïtien International Airport (CAP), according to Aviation Week and Simple Flying. The inaugural flight was operated by an all-Haitian, Creole-speaking crew led by Captain Oliver Jean.
The return marks the first restoration of U.S. commercial service to Haiti since November 2024, when gunfire struck aircraft operated by American, JetBlue and Spirit Airlines over Port-au-Prince, prompting U.S. carriers to suspend operations. At the time, the U.S. embassy cited "gang-led efforts to block travel to and from Port-au-Prince." InterCaribbean Airlines and Canada's Air Transat also dropped service to the capital's Toussaint Louverture International Airport (PAP).
The new service does not reach Port-au-Prince, which the FAA continues to restrict for U.S. operators due to security threats. American selected Cap-Haïtien in northern Haiti, outside the restricted airspace. The airline is flying the route with Boeing 737 aircraft, operating 2,408 two-way weekly seats and immediately becoming the largest carrier at CAP, according to OAG data. American last served Cap-Haïtien between 2014 and 2020.
American said CAP is its 100th destination in Latin America and the Caribbean. Officials noted the restart does not indicate conditions have normalized across Haiti.