The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has prolonged its prohibition on commercial flights to Haiti through September 30, 2026, citing severe and persistent security threats. This extension solidifies Haiti’s status of aerial isolation, which has been in effect since November 2024.
In a significant escalation of precautions, the FAA has broadened the restricted airspace beyond Port-au-Prince to include regions within the Central and Artibonite departments. This decision is driven by intelligence indicating gang factions are advancing northward from the capital, substantially elevating the risk of small arms fire targeting aircraft operating below 10,000 feet. The official advisory underscores the critical inability of Haitian security forces to safeguard airport approach paths and the perimeter of Toussaint Louverture International Airport.
The aviation blockade is not an isolated U.S. policy. Key international allies, including France, the United Kingdom, and Canada, have issued stringent advisories urging avoidance of the capital’s airport and low-altitude flight operations. Compounding the isolation, the Dominican Republic has sustained the closure of its aerial border with Haiti, suspending all passenger and cargo flights until at least March 28, 2026.
The genesis of this extensive ban traces back to a dramatic surge in violence commencing in late 2024, when three commercial aircraft—operated by Spirit Airlines, JetBlue, and American Airlines—were struck by gunfire on approach to Port-au-Prince. The crisis intensified in January 2026 when two ZED Airlines planes were similarly attacked, prompting the carrier to immediately cease all operations. This suspension marked the termination of the final scheduled international service to the Haitian capital.
Despite efforts to mitigate risks, including the demolition of structures near the airport to eliminate cover for shooters, the threat landscape has deteriorated. Intelligence confirms that armed coalitions, such as ‘Viv Ansanm,’ now deploy advanced Barrett M-50 precision rifles, capable of accurately engaging targets at distances up to 4,000 meters. The FAA explicitly states that prevailing security conditions remain fundamentally ‘incompatible with the normal continuation of operations.’
The protracted flight embargo is triggering severe economic and humanitarian repercussions. Logistical expenses have skyrocketed, air freight capacity has plummeted, and the ensuing economic strangulation is acutely suffocating Port-au-Prince, with dire consequences rippling across the entire nation.