Not Port-au-Prince: American Airlines Returns To Haiti After 2+ Years With All-Haitian Crew

Credit: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock, Simple Flying Published Nov 2, 2026, 7:31 PM EST Jack comes to Simple Flying with a lifelong interest in all things aviation. He holds a degree in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech, and is a certified private and remote pilot. Beyond these experiences, Jack previously worked for a corporate flight department where he gained first-hand experience in the world of business aviation. Currently, Jack works in the professional services industry and continues to build his flight hours outside of work. Sign in to your Simple Flying account American Airlines has resumed flights to Haiti, launching daily nonstop service between Miami International Airport (MIA) and Cap-Haïtien International Airport (CAP) on November 1. The return makes American the first major US network carrier to restore service to the country since US airlines suspended flights amid escalating security concerns in 2024. Its inaugural flight carried an all-Haitian, Creole-speaking crew led by Captain Oliver Jean, giving the restart additional significance for the Haitian diaspora and communities on both sides of the route. However, the service does not extend to Port-au-Prince. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) continues to restrict US commercial operators from flying into the Haitian capital because of security threats, including armed attacks on aircraft. Instead, American has selected Cap-Haïtien in northern Haiti, restoring a connection through its Miami hub while avoiding the airport at the center of the country's aviation security crisis. American Restores Haiti Service With A Daily Miami Connection Daily flights between Miami and Cap-Haïtien provide travelers with a direct connection to northern Haiti, where American previously operated service between 2014 and 2020. Although the airline has served Haiti since 1971, it had not flown to Cap-Haïtien for more than six years before the latest launch. American is operating the route with Boeing 737 aircraft, providing more than 90 onward connections across the United States through Miami. That network access is particularly relevant for Haitian-American communities outside South Florida, including travelers in New York and Orlando, who can connect through the airline’s hub rather than relying on less convenient itineraries. The entirely Haitian crew highlighted the personal and cultural connections between the airline and the communities served by the route. For passengers traveling to visit relatives, conduct business, or return home, having a direct flight operated by a major US carrier restores an option that had been missing since the industry-wide suspension. American described Cap-Haïtien as its 100th destination in the Caribbean and Latin America network. The milestone adds to a regional footprint that the airline says is larger than that of any other US carrier, while giving northern Haiti a direct link to one of the country's most important international gateways. "The continued growth of our network in the region — including being the first airline to return to Venezuela earlier this year — is a reflection of the legacy we’ve built and one we’re proud to carry forward as we continue growing our network across the region.” - Vice President of International Operations José A. Freig Why Cap-Haïtien Is Open While Port-au-Prince Remains Restricted Credit: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock Security concerns explain why American can serve Cap-Haïtien but not the capital. In November 2024, gunfire struck aircraft operated by American, JetBlue, and Spirit Airlines near Port-au-Prince. The incidents prompted US carriers to suspend service, while the FAA introduced restrictions on civil aviation operations in affected parts of Haiti. The agency subsequently narrowed its restrictions, allowing US aircraft to operate at airports outside the designated area around the capital. Cap-Haïtien, located in northern Haiti, falls beyond the restricted airspace. Port-au-Prince’s Toussaint Louverture International Airport (PAP) still remains inaccessible to commercial carriers from the US under the current rules. Geographic separation has allowed international service to continue at Cap-Haïtien, and the northern airport is therefore an important entry point for travelers heading to Haiti, although reaching destinations in the south may require additional ground transportation and careful consideration of local security conditions. American’s return does not signify that conditions have normalized across the country. Miami Hub Provides Access For Haiti's Regional Travelers Credit: Just Dance | Shutterstock Miami's importance to the new route extends beyond its proximity to Haiti. American operates more than 410 peak daily flights from the airport to over 170 destinations in 46 countries, making it the carrier's most internationally connected hub. The additional Haiti service gives passengers access to that network, including connections from cities that do not have nonstop flights to Cap-Haïtien. South Florida is home to the largest Haitian-American population in the United States, making the Miami connection especially significant for family visits and other regular travel. For now, American's daily Miami-Cap-Haïtien flights represent a meaningful reopening of one part of the US-Haiti air market. The all-Haitian inaugural crew gave the launch a distinctive community connection, but the larger development is the restoration of a major airline link. Whether service can eventually extend to Port-au-Prince will depend on security improvements and the FAA's willingness to lift its remaining restrictions.