Dominican Republic and Haiti agree to reopen airspace after 2-year closure

The governments of the Dominican Republic and Haiti have agreed to reopen their shared airspace starting in May, restoring flights between the two countries for the first time in more than two years.

The decision was announced Friday in a joint statement, which confirmed that air connections will resume between three Dominican airports and one airport serving Haiti’s northern city of Cap-Haïtien.

The Dominican Republic closed its airspace with Haiti in March 2024, citing rising insecurity in Haiti following the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. At the time, only humanitarian flights were permitted.

The two countries share the island of Hispaniola. Relations had already been strained in the months leading up to the closure due to tensions over the construction of an irrigation canal by Haitian businessmen drawing water from the Massacre River, a shared waterway. Dominican authorities opposed the project, arguing it posed environmental risks and could harm agricultural production on both sides of the border.

Friday’s agreement followed bilateral talks focusing on border control, surveillance, migration, and trade.

“This measure seeks to facilitate mobility, boost economic ties and strengthen relations between both countries,” the joint statement said following discussions between Dominican Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez and Haitian Foreign Minister Raina Forbin.

The statement also acknowledged support from the international community, including the United Nations.

“The United Nations supports the Dominican Republic and Haiti in their efforts to strengthen dialogue and build trust among the two nations,” U.N. spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said. “We expect the reopening of the air corridor to help aid agencies move staff and supplies into northern Haiti.”

The two countries have not had formal diplomatic relations since September 2023, when the canal dispute escalated into a broader diplomatic breakdown. Dominican President Luis Abinader ordered the closure of air, sea, and land borders, suspended visas, and imposed sanctions on those involved in the project.

Security conditions in Haiti continued to deteriorate, with armed groups gaining strength and contributing to instability. The airspace closure in March 2024 followed further unrest, including attempts by armed gangs to challenge the government of then Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

Since then, conditions have worsened further, and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has maintained restrictions on commercial flights to Port-au-Prince.

In response to the announcement, the U.S. Embassy in Haiti said the reopening of airspace by May 1 is a positive development, calling it a step that supports regional stability and improved coordination between both countries.

The partial reopening is expected to provide additional travel options to Haiti at a time when international flight access remains limited.

caribbeannationalweekly.com