FAA Extends Airspace Restrictions Over Haiti Through September 2026 – Low-Altitude Flights Still Banned Due to Gang Threats

No end in sight for prohibitions on U.S. carriers operating below 10,000 feet in high-risk zones around Port-au-Prince

Washington, D.C. – March 3, 2026 The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has once again extended its airspace restrictions over parts of Haiti, maintaining prohibitions on U.S.-operated flights at low altitudes in high-risk zones through September 3, 2026.

The latest extension, effective March 2, reflects little improvement in Haiti’s security situation. Originally introduced on November 12, 2024, following incidents where armed groups fired on commercial aircraft (including U.S. carriers like Spirit, JetBlue, and American Airlines), the restrictions target areas plagued by gang violence, particularly around the capital, Port-au-Prince.

The FAA’s NOTAM prohibits U.S. air carriers, commercial operators, and U.S.-registered aircraft from operating below 10,000 feet mean sea level (MSL), effectively from the surface up to 9,999 feet, in specified territories and airspace. These zones include regions south of 19°10’00″N and north of 18°20’00″N, between the Haiti-Dominican Republic border and approximately 73°00’00″W, plus a buffer around key coordinates near the capital.

The FAA has highlighted that armed groups, some designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S., control large swaths of the area (up to 90% of Port-au-Prince and surrounding routes) and possess small arms and drones capable of threatening low-flying aircraft.

While overflights above 10,000 feet are permitted, and operations in lower-risk areas (such as northern airports like Cap-Haïtien, Port-de-Paix, and others) may continue without special authorization, the core restrictions effectively bar routine U.S. commercial service to Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince.

Exceptions apply to FAA-approved operations, U.S. government-sanctioned flights, and emergency deviations, where pilots must act to ensure immediate safety.

The ongoing ban underscores Haiti’s persistent security crisis, with gangs controlling key infrastructure, disrupting humanitarian aid, and posing direct threats to civil aviation. Commercial airlines have long avoided low-altitude approaches to the capital due to these risks.

L’Union Suite will continue monitoring FAA updates, any further extensions, and the impact on Haitian diaspora travel, remittances, and humanitarian flights.

Safety in the skies remains a priority but so does stability on the ground in Haiti.