The Dominican Republic and Haiti agreed Friday to reopen their shared airspace in May, restoring direct flights between the neighboring Caribbean nations after a closure spanning more than two years. The agreement permits connections between three Dominican airports and Cap-Haïtien, Haiti’s northern port city. The decision followed bilateral talks focused on border control, surveillance, migration, and trade.
The reopening reflects improving security in Haiti and a broadening of bilateral cooperation on regional issues that had severely strained relations between the two nations sharing the island of Hispaniola.
The Dominican Republic and Haiti said Friday they will reopen their shared airspace in May, restoring direct flights between the neighboring Caribbean nations after a closure lasting more than two years. The countries will reconnect three Dominican airports with Cap-Haïtien, Haiti’s main northern port.
“This measure seeks to facilitate mobility, boost economic ties and strengthen relations between both countries,” according to a joint statement issued by Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez of the Dominican Republic and Foreign Minister Raina Forbin of Haiti.
The decision followed bilateral talks focused on border control and surveillance, migration, and trade.
Why the Closure Happened
The Dominican Republic closed its airspace with Haiti in March 2024, permitting only humanitarian flights. The government cited widespread insecurity in Haiti following the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.
The closure capped years of rising tensions between the two nations sharing the island of Hispaniola. Before shutting the airspace, bilateral relations had deteriorated sharply over a conflict centered on an irrigation canal project developed by Haitian businessmen.
The Shared River Dispute
The canal is fed by the Massacre River, a waterway shared by both countries. The Dominican Republic opposed the project, arguing it would cause environmental damage and harm agricultural producers on both sides of their shared border.
With security improving in Haiti, both nations have begun addressing their bilateral disputes and expanding diplomatic engagement.
Path to Normalization
The joint statement thanked the international community, particularly the United Nations, for supporting Haitian authorities in their efforts to improve security and governance. The reopening of air links marks the first significant normalization of bilateral ties since the 2024 closure.
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