Haiti–Dominican Republic to Resume Direct Flights in May After Two-Year Hiatus | WPN World People News

After more than two years of airspace restrictions, Haiti and the Dominican Republic announced in a joint statement on Friday (April 17, 2026) that they will officially resume direct flights starting in May. The decision marks a significant step toward normalizing trade and diplomatic ties between the two neighbors on the island of Hispaniola following a prolonged period of tension.

The Dominican government had previously ordered the closure of its airspace to all passenger and cargo flights to and from Haiti in March 2024, citing national security concerns amid escalating gang violence in Haiti. The move severely disrupted bilateral commerce and people-to-people exchanges.

According to a statement issued after a meeting between the two countries’ foreign ministers at the CODEVI industrial park on the border, the resumption of direct flights aims to: (1) facilitate the movement of people by providing safer and more convenient travel options, reducing pressure from illegal crossings along the land border; (2) strengthen economic ties by restoring long-suspended air logistics and business travel, injecting momentum into post-pandemic and post-crisis economic recovery; and (3) enhance bilateral relations by rebuilding dialogue mechanisms on the basis of mutual respect for sovereignty.

Despite the planned resumption of air travel, relations between Haiti and the Dominican Republic still face challenges. The two countries share a 380-kilometer border, and the Dominican Republic is actively constructing a 174-kilometer concrete wall to curb illegal immigration and smuggling.

Haiti’s transitional Prime Minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, welcomed the move, stating that it demonstrates Haiti’s commitment to regional cooperation and good-neighborly relations. The Dominican Civil Aviation Board (JAC) has also approved the necessary resolutions to prepare technically for the first flights in May.

Observers note that although Haiti’s security situation remains fragile, the decision to resume flights suggests that Dominican authorities now consider the risks to be manageable, or that humanitarian and economic considerations have made reopening necessary. For many Haitians who rely on the Dominican Republic as a transit hub for international travel, the development comes as welcome news.