Just weeks after the foreign affairs delegations of Haiti and the Dominican Republic announced a landmark deal to restore cross-border air connectivity between the two Caribbean nations, the planned May 1, 2026 resumption of commercial flights has been put on an indefinite hold. The delay comes as officials from both countries work to wrap up negotiations on a comprehensive new cross-border travel protocol, a framework designed to govern all passenger and cargo movement between Haitian and Dominican airports. The original April 17 agreement between the two ministries of foreign affairs had set May 1 as the official launch date for restored air links, specifically connecting Cap-Haïtien International Airport with multiple airports across the Dominican Republic.
In an official statement released on May 1, the Dominican Republic’s Civil Aviation Authority (Junta de Aviación Civil) confirmed the postponement, noting that the full reopening of shared airspace will now take place sometime in May 2026, though no revised firm date has been set. The authority clarified that the delay is not rooted in diplomatic friction or disagreement, but rather in the need to finalize all components of the new regulatory protocol, which outlines binding operating standards across three critical areas: public health, immigration screening, and general passenger and cargo security.
Work on the framework is currently advancing steadily through joint coordination between relevant regulatory agencies from both Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The overarching goal of the collaborative process is to ensure that when flights do resume, operations launch under the safest possible conditions for all travelers, airline staff, and border officials. The Haitian government has reaffirmed its full commitment to the reopening project, emphasizing that it continues to work in close lockstep with Dominican authorities to deliver a resumption of air services that is rapid, gradual, and fully secure, with a core focus on restoring connectivity through Cap-Haïtien International Airport.
Both national governments have reiterated their shared commitment to reopening the shared airspace, noting that open lines of communication and ongoing bilateral dialogue remain in place, guided by the longstanding principles of mutual respect and good neighborliness between the two neighboring nations. The Haitian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also committed to providing timely public updates as new developments emerge, ensuring that travelers, airline operators, and local communities stay informed of changes to the timeline for restored air connectivity.