American Airlines to resume Haiti flights, first major U.S. carrier back

American Airlines is preparing a narrow return to Haiti, not a full restoration of service. Starting November 1, the carrier plans daily nonstop flights between Miami and Cap-Haitien, making it the first major U.S. airline to announce a comeback after service was suspended in late 2024 amid worsening violence.

The move signals cautious confidence in Haiti’s northern airport, but it does not change the bigger picture. The Federal Aviation Administration still prohibits U.S. civil aviation operations below 10,000 feet in specified parts of Haiti’s airspace, and direct flights to Port-au-Prince remain barred. For now, the country’s main airport is still outside the reach of U.S. carriers, even as one route reopens.

That constraint reflects the security crisis that drove the shutdown in the first place. The FAA says armed gangs have fired on civilian aircraft, helicopters, airports and related infrastructure, damaging multiple aircraft and injuring an air crew member. Since the agency’s March 2025 notice, there has been at least one additional likely episode of small-arms fire. American’s return follows gunfire incidents in November 2024 that pushed major U.S. carriers out of the market.

For travelers, the practical options remain limited. Anyone flying American’s Haiti route will be routed through Cap-Haitien, not Port-au-Prince, on daily nonstop service from Miami International Airport. That makes the flight useful for some business travelers, aid workers and Haitians with ties to the north, but far less helpful for people whose destinations are centered in the capital, where security remains the sharpest threat.

The U.S. Department of State still rates Haiti Level 4, Do Not Travel, and says kidnapping is widespread. It also says local law enforcement has an extremely limited ability to respond to serious crimes, especially outside Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haitien. U.N.-reported figures cited by the department show gang violence caused 3,884 deaths and injuries in the first half of 2024 alone, with 96 percent of killings in the West Department, including Port-au-Prince.

American’s Haiti decision also sits alongside another network move: the airline plans to add service to Maracaibo, Venezuela, starting July 14. Together, the routes suggest American is trying to rebuild parts of its regional network while staying selective about risk. But Haiti remains the only Caribbean nation without direct flights operated by U.S. carriers, a reminder that this return is still more symbolic than transformative.