Resumption of Domestic Flights: A Breath of Hope for National Connectivity

After more than six months of interruption, domestic flights will finally resume at Guy Malary Airport. This Thursday, June 5, the Haitian Government and airline Sunrise Airways officially signed a memorandum of understanding marking the relaunch of internal connections starting next June 12. Cap-Haïtien, Jacmel, and Jérémie will once again be connected to the capital, to the great relief of the populations and economic operators in these regions. The signing ceremony, held in Port-au-Prince, brought together several executive figures, including Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, the Minister of Economy and Finance Alfred Métellus, and the Director General of the National Airport Authority (AAN), Yves Ducarmel François. Alongside Sunrise Airways CEO, Philippe Bayard, officials highlighted the strategic importance of this resumption as part of the national plan for economic recovery and territorial accessibility. A Prolonged Closure with Heavy Consequences Guy Malary Airport had ceased its domestic operations in November 2024, due to a particularly tense security context and major structural problems. The abrupt halt of internal flights had affected thousands of passengers, including merchants, students, patients seeking specialized care, but also families and perhaps even loved ones, separated by geography. “It’s a relief to finally see a concrete response to citizens’ mobility needs,” says Marie-Laurence, an entrepreneur from Jacmel who was awaiting this reopening to restart her activities between the Southeast and the capital. This memorandum of understanding with Sunrise Airways also marks a rare synergy between the public and private sectors in Haiti. Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé praised the decisive role of the AAN in rehabilitating airport facilities, while thanking the airline for its commitment to serving remote areas once again. “This initiative is of paramount importance for the restoration of the national aviation sector. It will facilitate connectivity between regions, stimulate economic exchanges, and strengthen the social and commercial fabric of our country,” Fils-Aimé declared in his address. A Strong, Yet Fragile Signal In addition to its economic objectives, this relaunch also aims to restore a form of normalcy in a country facing multiple challenges. The Prime Minister expressed hope that this restart of internal flights would encourage other partners, particularly international ones, to support the broader recovery of Haitian air traffic. However, the path remains fraught with pitfalls. The return to full activity will depend on security stability, the continuity of modernization efforts, and the trust users place in the service. For now, the announcement is met with a mix of cautious hope and relief. At the dawn of this new stage, many Haitians hope that the national sky will finally remain open, and that this breath of aerial renewal will help bring together a country long fragmented.