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Haiti, officially the Republic of Haiti, is a Caribbean country that occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola. The country has several airports, including the Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince, which is currently the busiest airport in Haiti. Haiti's Antoine Simon Airport in Les Cayes is also an international airport that is expected to boost the local economy and provide a new way for nonprofits to distribute aid.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of airports | 3 international airports and several makeshift airports |
| Names of airports | Toussaint Louverture International Airport, Cap-Haïtien International Airport, Antoine Simon Airport |
| Location | Tabarre, Port-au-Prince, Les Cayes |
| Airlines | Sunrise Airways, JetBlue |
| Terminals | Main Terminal, Guy Malary Terminal |
| Accessibility | Car, National Bus Route 1 |
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What You'll Learn
- Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince is Haiti's busiest airport
- Haiti's third international airport, Antoine Simon Airport, is located in Les Cayes
- Haiti's capital had a ban on US flights until March 12
- The airport in Tabarre, Port-au-Prince, is informally called the Maïs-Gâté airport
- The airport's main terminal has two stories, with lounges and retail stores on the second floor
Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince is Haiti's busiest airport
Haiti, officially the Republic of Haiti, is a Caribbean country that occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola. The country's capital is Port-au-Prince, which is home to Haiti's busiest airport, the Toussaint Louverture International Airport.
The airport is located in the commune of Tabarre in Port-au-Prince and is an operating hub for Sunrise Airways. It is informally called "the Maïs-Gâté airport", named after the area in the Cul-de-Sac Plain where the airport was built. The airport was previously known as the François Duvalier International Airport, named after the Haitian president at the time, François "Papa Doc" Duvalier. It was later renamed the Port-au-Prince International Airport after Duvalier's son and successor, Jean-Claude Duvalier, resigned in 1986. In 2003, Haitian President Jean Bertrand Aristide renamed the airport once more to its current name, honouring Toussaint Louverture, the leader of the Haitian Revolution.
The Toussaint Louverture International Airport has a two-story concrete and glass main building, which serves as the International Terminal. The second floor features lounges and a few retail stores, while the lower floor houses the check-in counters, gates, and immigration facilities. The Guy Malary Terminal, named after former Haitian Justice Minister Guy Malary, is used for domestic flights. There are additional buildings for general aviation and cargo flights. The airport has three jet bridges, but most passengers board the aircraft using mobile stairs. The ramp area can accommodate up to 12 planes.
The airport has experienced several incidents and crashes over the years. Notable accidents include a Haiti Express GAF Nomad aircraft crash in 1996 that resulted in the deaths of two crew members and eight passengers, and two separate Caribintair Cessna Grand Caravan crashes in 2007, one shortly after takeoff and the other during landing, with no fatal injuries reported. In 2013, a Brazilian Air Force KC-137 transport aircraft veered off the runway during takeoff due to an engine fire, but fortunately, none of the 121 Brazilian soldiers on board were injured.
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Haiti's third international airport, Antoine Simon Airport, is located in Les Cayes
Haiti has two major international airports: Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haïtien International Airport in Cap-Haïtien. However, Haiti's third international airport, Antoine Simon Airport, is located in Les Cayes. Named after a Haitian president who led a rebellion in the early 1900s, the airport has been operational for almost two decades. Renovations began in 2013 to extend its runway to 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) to accommodate international flights. The Haitian government officially declared the airport open to international flights on March 6, 2025. The development of this airport is expected to boost the local economy and provide a new way for nonprofits to distribute aid.
The expansion of Antoine Simon Airport is part of Haiti's efforts to promote tourism and create jobs in the southern region of the country. The airport is located in the coastal city of Les Cayes and is now equipped with a longer runway and a terminal offering customs and other services. The renovations have transformed the airport into a gateway for international travel, with the potential to attract more tourists and investment to the region.
The airport's expansion was a collaborative effort involving various stakeholders. Haiti's Autorité Aéroportuaire Nationale played a key role in planning and executing the expansion project. Additionally, technicians from the U.S. airline JetBlue visited Les Cayes to inspect the runway, although the company later denied any record of the trip due to the ongoing civil unrest in Haiti. Despite this, the airport is now ready to receive international flights, marking a significant milestone in Haiti's aviation history.
The opening of Antoine Simon Airport as an international gateway is a positive development for Haiti, offering new opportunities for economic growth and tourism. With this airport, Haiti now has three operational international airports, enhancing connectivity and accessibility to the country. The increased accessibility is expected to attract more visitors, investments, and business opportunities, contributing to the country's overall development. The airport's expansion also highlights the government's commitment to investing in critical infrastructure and improving Haiti's transportation network.
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Haiti's capital had a ban on US flights until March 12
Haiti does have airports, including Toussaint Louverture International Airport, which is the country's busiest airport and an operating hub for Sunrise Airways. It is located in Tabarre, a commune of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince.
In March 2025, the US extended a ban on flights to Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, until September 8, 2025. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) cited ongoing security risks from armed gangs as the reason for the ban, which was first imposed in November 2024 after gunfire hit three US planes attempting to land. While the ban was initially set to expire on March 12, 2025, officials decided that the risks were still too high.
The Haitian Times reported that the FAA's decision keeps Haiti's capital cut off from American air carriers through the busy summer travel season. JetBlue, for example, confirmed that its flights to Port-au-Prince would remain halted until at least June 11, 2025, due to ongoing civil unrest in Haiti.
The US ban on flights to Haiti's capital does not include Cap-Haïtien International Airport, which remains the only option for direct commercial flights between Haiti and the United States. In addition, Haitian authorities announced in early March 2025 that the Antoine Simon Airport in Les Cayes had completed a runway extension, allowing it to receive international flights.
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The airport in Tabarre, Port-au-Prince, is informally called the Maïs-Gâté airport
Haiti, officially the Republic of Haiti, is a Caribbean country that shares the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. The country's capital, Port-au-Prince, is served by the Toussaint Louverture International Airport, which is located in the commune of Tabarre.
The history of the airport dates back to the United States occupation of Haiti, when the United States Marine Corps stationed Marine Observation units using HS-1 and HS-2 aircraft in what later became Bowen Field around 1919. In 1942, the USMC returned to Haiti to construct a facility for the Haiti Air Corps to monitor Nazi German activity in the region. This facility became Bowen Field, a small civilian and military airport near the Baie de Port-au-Prince.
Bowen Field served as Haiti's primary airport until the current airport, located further northeast, was developed with funding from the US government and Haitian taxes and lotteries. The new airport opened in 1965 as the François Duvalier International Airport, named after the Haitian president at the time. The old Bowen Field was decommissioned after 1994 and now hosts an Internally Displaced Persons Camp and a sports centre.
The Toussaint Louverture International Airport has experienced several incidents and accidents over the years. In 1974, a Transportes Aéreos de Integración (TAISA) Curtiss C-46 Commando aircraft crashed near Port-au-Prince due to engine failure, resulting in the deaths of all four occupants. In 1980, a Learjet operating a corporate charter flight crashed on arrival at the airport, claiming the lives of one passenger and two crew members. More recently, in 2013, a Brazilian Air Force KC-137 transport aircraft veered off the runway during takeoff due to an engine fire, although no injuries were reported among the 121 Brazilian soldiers on board.
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The airport's main terminal has two stories, with lounges and retail stores on the second floor
Haiti has several airports, including three international airports. The Toussaint Louverture International Airport, also known as the Port-au-Prince International Airport, is the country's busiest airport and serves as a hub for Sunrise Airways. The airport's main terminal has two stories, with lounges and retail stores on the second floor. The building is a concrete and glass structure, with check-in counters, gates, and immigration facilities on the lower floor. The airport has undergone various renovations and expansions over the years, including plans to add more gates and enlarge the main passenger terminal.
The Guy Malary Terminal, named after the former Haitian Justice Minister, is used for domestic flights. There are also separate buildings for general aviation and cargo flights. The airport's taxiway is currently under construction to increase traffic capacity, addressing the issue of aircraft having to use the active runway for taxiing.
In addition to the Toussaint Louverture International Airport, Haiti has two other international airports. The Antoine Simon Airport in Les Cayes, located in the country's southwest region, recently opened to international flights. This development is expected to positively impact the local economy and aid distribution. The other international airport is the Cap-Haïtien International Airport in Cap-Haïtien.
Haiti has also had several makeshift airports set up to facilitate aid shipments following the 2010 earthquake.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there are airports in Haiti.
Some airports in Haiti include Toussaint Louverture International Airport, Cap-Haïtien International Airport, and Antoine Simon Airport.
Toussaint Louverture International Airport is the busiest airport in Haiti.
Haiti's Antoine Simon Airport in Les Cayes opened for international flights in March 2024.
