American Airlines is set to resume daily nonstop flights from Miami to Cap-Haïtien, Haiti, starting November 1. This marks the airline’s return after more than a year of suspended operations in the region.
For over 50 years, American Airlines served Haiti, eventually halting flights to Port-au-Prince in December 2024 due to increased risks from gang-related gunfire that led the Federal Aviation Administration to ban U.S. carriers from flying into the Haitian capital.
American Airlines was the first major commercial carrier to start servicing Cap-Haïtien’s international airport in 2014 after runway repairs. However, in 2020, services were canceled amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the Port-au-Prince airport remains inactive due to ongoing violence, flight options to Haiti have been limited. Spirit Airlines, the only major carrier flying to Cap-Haïtien, is no longer operating there, causing Haitians to pay higher travel costs via Sunrise Airways or routes through the Turks and Caicos and The Bahamas. Zed Airlines started flights between Miami and Cap-Haïtien, with the Dominican Republic also opening its airspace for resumed flights.
In a statement, American Airlines highlighted Haiti as the largest Caribbean market demand served without a U.S. carrier. The airline noted strong connections with South Florida’s Haitian-American community, where there will be convenient connections from New York City and Orlando.
Additionally, American plans to increase service to Venezuela by launching daily flights from Miami to Maracaibo starting July 14.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Danielle Levine Cava praised the move, citing the positive impact on reconnecting families and supporting economic opportunities, strengthening Miami International Airport’s hub status.
American Airlines’ Chief Commercial Officer, Nat Piepe, reaffirmed the company’s dedication to regional travel, noting its operation of 100 routes across the Caribbean and Latin America, with destinations including Anguilla, Bimini, Ocho Rios, South Caicos, and Montevideo.
Juan Carlos Liscano, American’s Senior Vice President of MIA Operations, emphasized the pivotal role of Miami as a hub for travel to the Caribbean and Latin America, marking a significant milestone with the airline’s return to Haiti and expanded flights to Venezuela.