In a landmark move to boost economic connectivity and regional development in southern Haiti, the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) Board of Executive Directors greenlit $69 million in non-reimbursable financing on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, for two critical infrastructure projects: the full modernization of Les Cayes International Airport and the rehabilitation of high-priority segments of National Route 2 (RN2).
The airport modernization initiative marks a pivotal turning point for connectivity across southern Haiti, a region that has long faced limitations in reliable transportation for people, commercial cargo, and life-saving emergency supplies. The project is structured to bring the facility’s aviation safety protocols fully in line with global international standards, creating a resilient alternative transportation hub for the entire southern corridor. Work will be rolled out in sequential phases to minimize disruptions to existing operations, with capacity expansions designed to accommodate projected passenger and cargo demand through 2045.
Key upgrades to Les Cayes Airport include expanding the main runway to a width of 30 meters, resurfacing the aircraft apron and updating pavement navigation markings, installing state-of-the-art aeronautical lighting and enhanced approach systems to support safer operations in all weather conditions, deploying cutting-edge meteorological observation technology, and constructing a reinforced perimeter fence to improve site security. The project also includes new purpose-built operational infrastructure, including a modern air traffic control tower and a dedicated rescue and firefighting facility.
Complementing the airport upgrades, the initiative will deliver structural rehabilitation to 11 kilometers of RN2 along the busy Étang de Miragoâne–Carrefour Moussignac corridor. As southern Haiti’s primary arterial roadway connecting the region to Port-au-Prince and Haiti’s core economic centers, improved RN2 will create a more continuous, safe, and reliable route for all traffic.
When completed, these two projects will work in tandem with other ongoing infrastructure investments in the region, including upgrades to the Port of Saint-Louis du Sud and the Les Cayes–Jérémie road link, to create a synergistic, interconnected transport network. The combined upgrades are expected to lower trade barriers, strengthen the country’s capacity to respond to natural disasters and public health emergencies, expand local access to national and international markets and essential services, generate sustained local job opportunities, and deepen regional economic integration across the Caribbean.
The initiative will deliver immediate, tangible benefits to more than 61,000 annual air travelers and 6,500 daily roadway users, who will experience more reliable schedules, reduced travel times, and vastly improved safety. Beyond physical infrastructure, the program also includes dedicated technical assistance to build the institutional and operational capacity of Haiti’s Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Communications (MTPTC). This capacity building will improve the country’s ability to manage and execute major infrastructure projects, ensure the long-term sustainability of the new investments, and boost efficiency in future infrastructure maintenance and development across the country.