Key Takeaways
• JetBlue extended Port-au-Prince flight suspension until at least June 11, 2025, due to ongoing security risks.
• FAA banned all US commercial and cargo flights to Haiti after gangs shot at planes in November 2024.
• Travelers, immigrants, and aid groups face major disruptions, with only limited alternative routes via Cap-Haïtien.
JetBlue has made a major announcement that is affecting travel between the United States 🇺🇸 and Haiti 🇭🇹. The airline has decided to extend its flight suspension to Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, until at least June 11, 2025. The main reason for this is the ongoing violence and dangerous conditions in and around Port-au-Prince. This means that, for now, people cannot book or take JetBlue flights directly between the United States 🇺🇸 and Port-au-Prince. This change is impacting not just travelers but also families, businesses, and people who rely on these flights for immigration reasons.
Background: Why Did JetBlue Suspend Flights?
JetBlue was the only United States 🇺🇸 airline flying nonstop between New York, South Florida, and Port-au-Prince. These flights were important for many reasons. They helped Haitian-Americans visit family, allowed people to travel for business or study, and made it easier for those with urgent immigration needs to move between countries. However, things started to change due to safety problems.
In November 2024, there was a very serious event. Armed gangs shot at three United States 🇺🇸 planes near the Port-au-Prince airport. One of those flights belonged to Spirit Airlines, and a flight attendant was hurt during the attack. After this happened, the United States 🇺🇸 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) decided that it was too risky to allow airlines and cargo companies to fly to Haiti. The FAA’s ban was expected to be reviewed by March 12, 2025, but with the security problems still getting worse, it does not look like the ban will be lifted any time soon.
A JetBlue spokesperson shared: “Our top priority remains the safety and well-being of our customers and crew members. Due to the ongoing civil unrest in Haiti, we have made the decision to suspend all flights to and from the country through at least June 11, 2025.”
The Security Situation in Port-au-Prince
The main problem that has led to the JetBlue flight suspension is the growing violence in Haiti, especially in Port-au-Prince. The Toussaint Louverture International Airport, which is the busiest airport in the country, is not safe. The area right around the airport has become very dangerous. Gangs are able to get close to the airport, and the authorities cannot fully control who comes and goes.
It is not just the airport that is unsafe. All the highways that lead into and out of Port-au-Prince are also very dangerous. Armed groups have taken over these roads. This means that even if someone could arrive by plane, it would be a big risk to try to leave the airport or travel inside Haiti 🇭🇹.
Because of these problems, the United States Department of State has continued to advise people: “Do Not Travel” to Haiti. The reasons for this warning include:
- Increased kidnappings and violence
- Crimes such as robbery or carjacking
- Wide civil unrest, including protests and riots
- Almost no access to healthcare, emergency services, or police support
How the Suspension Impacts Immigrants, Families, and International Travelers
The JetBlue flight suspension is not just about airline schedules. It has deep effects for people trying to move or travel between Haiti and the United States 🇺🇸. Here’s how different groups are affected:
Immigrants and Their Families
- Many Haitian-Americans use these flights to visit relatives, attend important events, or provide support to family in times of crisis. With no direct flights, these visits are much harder or impossible.
- People who need to return to the United States 🇺🇸 for immigration interviews, green cards, or visa renewals are now facing extra challenges.
- Those hoping to help loved ones leave a dangerous situation in Haiti are finding it even harder to get them out quickly.
Students and Business Travelers
- Many students travel between Haiti and the United States 🇺🇸 to attend school, participate in exchange programs, or visit family during holidays. Flights are now severely limited.
- Business ties between United States 🇺🇸 companies and Haitian partners are also affected. Meetings, trade, and projects can get delayed or canceled because people can’t travel easily.
Aid Workers and Relief Organizations
- Workers from international aid groups, which provide care, food, and support to people in Haiti, find it hard to enter or leave the country safely.
- Supplies that are urgently needed in Haiti often arrive more slowly, and crews delivering aid face greater risks.
VisaVerge.com’s investigation reveals that these travel challenges make every immigration process – from family reunification to applications for work, study, or asylum – much slower and more stressful.
The FAA’s Role and the Ongoing Ban
The United States 🇺🇸 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the agency in charge of airline safety. After the gangs shot at planes in November 2024, the FAA quickly stopped all US commercial and cargo flights to Haiti. This included flights from all major airlines, not just JetBlue.
The original plan was to review the ban by March 12, 2025. But, with the situation remaining dangerous, it looks likely that the ban will stay in place for even longer. That’s why JetBlue chose to extend the flight suspension from April 30, 2025, to at least June 11, 2025.
For travelers and people who depend on immigration services, this means that even though things were “officially on hold” until March 2025, the pause will almost certainly last much longer.
If you want more official updates on flight rules to and from Haiti, the FAA’s official website is the best source.
What About Other Airlines and Airports?
JetBlue was the last major United States 🇺🇸 airline flying directly between US cities and Port-au-Prince when the suspension started. Before that, people could book direct flights from New York or South Florida to Port-au-Prince. Since the suspension, other airlines have also stopped these routes.
Some have looked for other ways to visit Haiti by air. Right now, the only direct flight left between the United States 🇺🇸 and Haiti goes through a different Haitian city called Cap-Haïtien. Sunrise Airways, a Haitian-owned airline, offers flights between Miami and Cap-Haïtien. While this option exists, it does not serve the country’s largest city — Port-au-Prince — where most of the population and government offices are.
The Haitian government has tried to keep some international air connections working. They have even reopened another airport further to the south called Antoine Simon Airport in Les Cayes. The runway there was extended by almost 1,800 meters so that bigger planes can land and take off. But, these airports are far away from Port-au-Prince, and travel on the ground from there is still dangerous.
Confusion Around the April 2026 Date
Some people have heard that JetBlue is extending its flight suspension until April 2026, but this is not quite right. Here’s why there is confusion:
- Recent data shows no scheduled commercial flights between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince from September 2025 to April 2026.
- This information led some to believe flights are suspended until April 2026, but JetBlue’s official announcement only extends to June 11, 2025 — at least for now.
Travelers should check directly with JetBlue or look up schedules before making any future plans.
Looking Ahead: When Will Flights Resume?
It is hard to know exactly when JetBlue will restart flights to Port-au-Prince. JetBlue has stated that they will only resume service when it is safe for both passengers and crew. As of now, that depends on:
- Security improvements both in and around the airport
- Local authorities regaining control over highways and major roads
- Decreased attacks on aircraft and safer ground conditions
Until these changes happen, JetBlue’s flight suspension is likely to remain in place. Other United States 🇺🇸 airlines are also unlikely to restart their Port-au-Prince flights soon.
Immigration and Visa Concerns
For many families, students, and workers, the JetBlue flight suspension means that getting to and from Haiti is far more complicated. Here are some issues facing people who need immigration services:
- Travel for visa interviews or green card appointments in the United States 🇺🇸 is now mostly impossible from Port-au-Prince.
- People fleeing danger in Haiti find it harder to seek asylum or protection in the United States 🇺🇸.
- Those with urgent family needs (including emergencies, funerals, or health crises) may not be able to travel as they normally would.
Family members living in the United States 🇺🇸 are also affected. Some send support or hope to bring family members out of Haiti during the crisis. The JetBlue suspension, along with the general FAA ban on flights, means most people have to wait or look for very limited, sometimes more expensive, indirect routes.
What Should Travelers and Immigrants Do Now?
If you or a loved one is affected by the JetBlue Port-au-Prince flight suspension, here are some important steps to consider:
- Stay updated: Check JetBlue’s official announcements or government travel warnings regularly for any changes.
- Look for alternative routes: Consider flying through Cap-Haïtien if urgent travel is needed, keeping in mind the risks on the ground.
- Contact the United States 🇺🇸 embassy in Haiti for updated information on consular services and possible evacuation options.
- Remain flexible with travel plans. Things are changing fast, and flights could be stopped or changed without much notice.
The Bigger Picture: How This Affects Haiti and the United States 🇺🇸
The Port-au-Prince flight suspension is a sign of the broader problems facing Haiti right now. When major airlines like JetBlue suspend flights, it is a sign that things are very serious. Economically, this makes it harder for Haitians living abroad to visit or send help. It also makes it difficult for aid organizations to do their work and for Haiti’s economy to receive support from travelers and investors.
From an immigration perspective, these barriers slow down family reunification, work and study visas, and other important processes. This can increase stress, disrupt lives, and make recovery for Haiti even harder.
Final Thoughts
The JetBlue decision to extend its Port-au-Prince flight suspension to at least June 11, 2025, shows just how deep Haiti’s safety crisis has grown. With no major United States 🇺🇸 carriers flying the route, many people face big obstacles — whether traveling for family, work, or study, or seeking a pathway to a safer life. For now, all eyes remain on security improvements and new updates from JetBlue and United States 🇺🇸 officials. Until it is safe, the path between the United States 🇺🇸 and Port-au-Prince is, for most, closed.
For ongoing updates and official advice on travel and immigration from the United States 🇺🇸, you can visit the Department of State’s Haiti travel page. Keeping informed is the best way to prepare as this critical situation develops.
Learn Today
Suspension → Temporary halt of JetBlue’s flights to and from Port-au-Prince due to unsafe conditions in Haiti.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) → The United States agency responsible for regulating and ensuring the safety of civil aviation operations.
Toussaint Louverture International Airport → Haiti’s busiest airport, located in Port-au-Prince and central to international travel.
Civil Unrest → Large-scale disorder, protests, or violence that disrupts public safety and services, especially in Haiti.
Asylum → Protection granted by a country to people fleeing dangerous situations, often relevant during crises like Haiti’s.
This Article in a Nutshell
JetBlue has suspended all flights to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, until at least June 11, 2025, citing extreme violence and ongoing safety concerns. This impacts families, travelers, immigrants, and businesses that rely on this route. The only direct U.S.-Haiti flight now operates through Cap-Haïtien with Sunrise Airways. Stay informed for updates.
— By VisaVerge.com
Read more:
• Haitian Community Hit Hard as Trump Ends TPS
• Dominican Republic deports pregnant Haitian women under new policy
• Spirit Airlines cancels over 12,000 flights for May and June 2025
• JetBlue and Spirit Airlines to Boost Flights to Haiti Amid Growing Demand
• Orlando Haitian Community Voices Deportation Fears Amid TPS Changes
