US FAA extends Port-au-Prince flight restrictions until March 2026

The Federal Aviation Administration said on Friday it was expanding prohibitions barring U.S. flights to Port-au-Prince through March 7, citing risks from armed groups to civil aviation.

In November, the FAA temporarily halted all flights to Haiti but later allowed U.S. flights to resume to six other airports in northern Haiti after three U.S. commercial jetliners were struck by gunfire.

The restrictions had been set to expire next week.

U.S. planes can transit over Port-au-Prince above 10,000 feet (3,048 m).

The agency last year allowed American carriers and general aviation pilots to resume flights to six airports in Haiti: Port-de-Paix, Cap-Haitien, Pignon, Jeremie, Antoine-Simon and Jacmel.

The FAA said on Friday that armed groups continue to control nearly 90% of Port-au-Prince and the immediate surrounding strategic routes and border areas. 

Since March, there has been at least one instance of likely Haitian groups directing small arms fire at low-flying aircraft.