American Airlines has resumed service to Port-au-Prince and prepared for the battlefield conditions its crewmembers could face on the ground in the troubled capital of Haiti.
American Airlines Resumes Service To Haiti, Despite Warlike Battlefield On Ground
As noted by Enilria, American Airlines resumed service from Miami (MIA) to Port-au-Prince, Haiti (PAP) this week. He notes a memo from APA President Ed Sicher (Allied Pilots Association, the American Airlines’ pilots union) outlining the security procedures in place for the resumption of service:
American Airlines Corporate Security – in concert with the U.S. State Department and the U.S. military – has enacted a series of security measures in preparation for the resumption of service. Crews flying to Haiti will likely notice a heightened security presence at the airport, including new guard towers along the northern perimeter wall, the presence of the U.S. military on the eastern side of the field (which continues operating several C-17 flights daily in and out of PAP), and the destruction of many squatter houses along the northern perimeter where gangs had taken up residence. U.S. security forces are aiding the Haitian National Police to secure the perimeter and ensure the roads between Port-au-Prince and the airport are safe.
Crews working this flight make a same-day turn back to Miami, but American Airlines has prepared for “secure transportation in armored vehicles” in case of an unexpected ground stop like a mechanical issue.
I have emphasized that we must collectively do everything in our power to avoid stranding crews in Haiti. American Airlines has established contingency plans addressing maintenance issues, OAL transport, rescue flights, and as a last resort, secure transportation in armored vehicles to secure lodging where the U.S. military and UN forces stay.
It’s interesting to me that the unions representing pilots and flight attendants have even agreed to resume service at this point. Is that not much more dangerous than, in contrast, flying to Tel Aviv (TLV) or Mainland China right now? Sicher added:
We have demonstrated this in locations such as China, Venezuela, and most recently Israel, when we directed our pilots to decline the assignment due to my concerns with regional security.
But he concludes Haiti is different:
I chose to fly the first flight (AA819) back to Port-au-Prince, Haiti (PAP) today after a long hiatus due to civil unrest. My objectives were to observe firsthand what our crews can expect to encounter, verify that the security protocols and precautions in place are sufficient, and gauge whether it is reasonably safe. I would never condone flying to a location unless I’m personally comfortable doing so.
Kudos to Sicher for checking out the conditions on the ground himself. That is leadership.
Is This Flight Really Necessary?
Finally, a serious question. Why is American Airlines flying to Port-au-Prince in the first place during this time? From every account I read, it is truly a warzone there and vast swaths of the capital (more than 80% by some estimates) are under gang control.
Is this 713-mile flight really necessary to transport essential personnel and cargo, when the U.S. military operates several flights per day out of Port-au-Prince?
Or is the situation on the ground not as dire as the media suggests?
CONCLUSION
American Airlines has resumed service to Port-au-Prince, Haiti despite the warlike conditions on the ground. Meanwhile, unlike service to Israel, China, or Venezuela, the union representing pilots at AA has signed off on the resumption of this route.
(Hat Tip: View From The Wing)
> Read More: The One Country In The World I Would Not Travel To Right Now
Tel Aviv is not dangerous.
That was my thought, especially compared to Haiti. Yet that is a “no-fly zone” for AA pilots…
There are millions of Haitians who are trying to leave Haiti, and haven’t been able to do so since February when air service was terminated. Without viable commercial air service to the US, the Haitian people were essentially prisoners to their own half of Hispaniola. The Haiti / DR border has been closed for many months, with limited permissions granted by the DR to allow Haitians into the country. The diaspora of Haitians in the US, particularly in South Florida and Orlando, and the commitment AA feels to serve the island is why they’re leading the charge to return. The route is also very profitable – with one way flights commanding fares of up to $800 in economy.
Without air service; missionaries, humanitarian workers, and others are unable to access the island to do their important work, too. So ultimately this is a good thing.
Agreed.
Haiti is a failed state with a culture that is incompatible with the modern world.
No amount of “aid” or NGO “help” is going to fix that.
The culture needs to die out and the only way to facilitate that is to completely isolate the country and let natural selection prevail.
What is the problem with the culture?
Let’s start with the corruption.
And then the gangs.
People can blame the French all they want but at some point the Haitians need to function on their own.
The modern world (particularly France) has screwed up Haiti and still continues to do so.
You’re an apologist and an enabler.
Enabling is the reason that Haiti is a failed state.
It looks like Cap-Haitien has a bit more service, including Spirit. Is the situation better up there?
Yes the security situation outside of Port-au-Prince is much better, although certainly not great by any reasonable assessment. But the gangs are definitely concentrated in P-a-P and the roads surrounding the city.