Haiti took a notable step forward in economic and infrastructural development on May 22, 2026, with the official inauguration of its newest private commercial airline, ZED Airlines S.A. The launch ceremony, held in Port-au-Prince, drew high-level attendees from across Haiti’s public sector, diplomatic community, and private business landscape, underscoring the broad significance of the new venture.
Leading the official government delegation was Joseph Almathe Pierre Louis, Haiti’s Minister of Public Works, Transportation, and Communications. He was joined by fellow cabinet members James Monazard, Minister of Commerce, and Patrick Pélissier, Minister of Justice and Public Security, alongside José Bernard Mathias Schettini, Director General of Haiti’s National Airport Authority (AAN), and senior representatives of the international diplomatic corps based in the country. Davide Jean Charle, President and Chief Executive Officer of ZED Airlines, led the company’s executive team at the celebratory event.
In his keynote address at the inauguration, Minister Pierre Louis framed the launch of ZED Airlines as far more than a new business entry: it stands, he said, as a tangible symbol of hope, national resilience, and growing confidence in Haiti’s capacity for recovery and long-term growth. He elaborated on the central role that a robust air transport sector plays in advancing a developing nation, noting that expanded air connectivity catalyzes cross-border economic exchange, strengthens personal and cultural ties between communities, boosts tourism activity, attracts foreign direct investment, and deepens Haiti’s integration into regional and global markets.
Pierre Louis praised the entrepreneurial vision behind ZED Airlines, adding that sustainable growth of Haiti’s civil aviation sector relies on intentional, coordinated collaboration between four key groups: the national government, independent aviation regulators, global industry partners, and private domestic and international investors. He stressed that this synergistic partnership will be critical to overcoming existing challenges in Haiti’s transportation infrastructure and unlocking the sector’s full economic potential.
In closing, the minister extended his well wishes to ZED Airlines’ leadership and entire workforce, reminding the team that consistent, high-quality customer service will be the foundational driver of long-term success. He also reaffirmed the Haitian government’s unwavering institutional support for all private and public initiatives focused on revitalizing the country’s transportation sector, a core pillar of broader national economic recovery efforts.
In a notable alignment of milestones, the inauguration ceremony coincided with ZED Airlines’ inaugural commercial revenue flight, operating between Miami, Florida, and Cap-Haitien, Haiti’s second-largest city. Speaking after the formal ceremony, CEO Davide Jean Charles announced the carrier’s near-term expansion plans: beginning the first week of June 2026, ZED Airlines will launch three new additional routes connecting Cap-Haitien to major North American cities: New York, Atlanta, and Montreal. The expanded route network is expected to open new travel and commerce opportunities for Haitian communities at home and abroad, while boosting access to the country for international tourists and investors.