Port-au-Prince Airport reopens after 11-week closure | Global News

The international airport in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, has finally reopened for commercial flights after an 11-week closure due to gang-fueled violence. The airport, Toussaint Louverture International Airport, had been closed since early March following coordinated attacks by gangs aiming to overthrow then-prime minister Ariel Henry.

The first airline to announce a resumption of flights is Sunrise Airways, with flights between Port-au-Prince and Miami, Florida. A flight bound for Miami departed on Monday afternoon, marking the first departure since the airport closure. Passengers were seen lining up at the airline’s counter with luggage in hand.

American Airlines, on the other hand, has suspended its flights in and out of Haiti until May 29 due to the civil unrest in Port-au-Prince. The carrier stated that they would continue to monitor the situation with safety and security as their top priority.

In the midst of ongoing violence in the capital, a transitional ruling council has taken over Haiti’s governance, with the mission to appoint an interim prime minister and restore order. Kenya is set to deploy police officers to lead a UN-backed multinational mission to tackle the gang violence in Port-au-Prince. Senior Kenyan officers have already arrived in Haiti on a reconnaissance mission, with the first contingent of police expected to be deployed this week.

The reopening of the airport and the deployment of international police forces signal a step towards restoring stability and security in Haiti’s capital.