Sunrise Airways Domestic Flights Canceled: What You Need to Know

When gunfire hit a plane on the tarmac at Toussaint Louverture International Airport, it wasn’t just a security incident — it was the moment Haiti’s primary domestic carrier had to walk away from its capital hub, suspending all flights to and from Port-au-Prince on November 24, 2025. This suspension, citing “strictly security-related reasons,” forces stranded passengers to navigate refunds, rebooking rights, and limited alternative airlines still flying out of Haiti.

Sunrise Airways suspended all flights to/from Port-au-Prince: November 24, 2025 ·
FAA extended ban on U.S. flights to Haiti: Until further notice ·
Sunrise Airways is Haiti’s primary domestic carrier: Unknown fleet size ·
No Sunrise Airways flights operate to the United States: As of November 2025

Five key facts about the airline and its current operations are outlined below.

Is Sunrise Airways a Haitian airline?

Sunrise Airways is a full-service airline based in Haiti that operates domestic and regional flights within the Caribbean. Expedia (travel booking platform) describes it as a regional carrier serving destinations such as Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haïtien, and other Caribbean islands. The airline’s own website positions itself as focused on connecting the Caribbean, but it does not currently operate flights to or from the United States.

Why is Sunrise Airways so expensive?

Passenger reviews on Tripadvisor (passenger review platform) often cite high fares and limited competition on many Haiti-to-Caribbean routes. After the Port-au-Prince suspension, a local news clip reported that a Miami flight from Cap-Haïtien cost close to $1,000 and was fully booked for the week — suggesting that constrained supply and high demand push prices up.

What happened with recent flight cancellations?

On November 24, 2025, Sunrise Airways issued a public notice announcing a temporary suspension of all arriving and departing flights to and from Port-au-Prince “for strictly security-related reasons.” The airline stated the suspension would remain in place until further notice, but all other routes were operating normally. According to a local news clip, the violence involved three planes being hit by bullets, prompting an immediate halt to domestic flights.

The implication: Sunrise Airways made a route-by-route operational decision rather than a full network shutdown, keeping its Cap-Haïtien and Caribbean services running while isolating the capital.

Are flights to Haiti still cancelled?

Yes — at least for Port-au-Prince. Sunrise Airways’ suspension remains in effect indefinitely. Meanwhile, the FAA has extended its prohibition on U.S. commercial flights to Haiti. A local news clip reported that U.S. carriers JetBlue, American, Spirit, and another airline had not been flying to Haiti since March 4 after an attempted takeover at the capital’s airport. The FAA ban covers U.S.-registered aircraft and has no scheduled end date.

Which airlines are affected?

• Sunrise Airways: all Port-au-Prince flights suspended.
• U.S. carriers (JetBlue, American, Spirit): banned by FAA since March 4, 2025 according to the local news clip.
• Foreign carriers like Air France and others may still operate under their own risk assessments.

What is the FAA’s position on flights to Haiti?

The FAA extended its ban indefinitely, consistent with the security deterioration in Port-au-Prince. No official end date has been set. The Haitian capital’s airspace remains dangerous for U.S.-operated aircraft.

Why this matters: with both the primary Haitian carrier and all U.S. airlines grounded, the only commercial options out of Haiti are foreign carriers or flights from Cap-Haïtien — and those come with their own constraints.

What happens when an airline cancels your flight domestically?

Under U.S. Department of Transportation rules, if an airline cancels a flight for any reason, passengers are entitled to a full refund in the original form of payment within seven business days for credit card purchases. However, these rules apply to U.S. carriers. Sunrise Airways is a Haitian carrier, so its own contract of carriage governs.

What are the passenger rights under DOT?

For flights wholly within Haiti, DOT enforcement does not apply. Passengers flying on a Sunrise Airways ticket need to examine the airline’s conditions of carriage, which are published on its website. The suspension notice signals an airline-initiated cancellation, which typically entitles passengers to a refund or rebooking — but the specific terms vary by carrier.

How do you request a refund?

• Contact Sunrise Airways’ customer service directly (see the official website for contact details). For tips on reaching a real person, see our guide on Xfinity customer service phone number.
• Document all communications: dates, names, and what was promised.
• If the airline does not respond, file a complaint with Haiti’s civil aviation authority (if one exists) or with the U.S. DOT if your itinerary touched a U.S. airport.

The trade-off: without a strong regulatory backstop in Haiti, getting a refund may depend on the airline’s goodwill. Tripadvisor reviews indicate customer-service problems in the past, so persistence is key.

How much are you entitled to if an airline cancels your flight?

For U.S. domestic flights, there is no statutory compensation beyond a refund unless the cancellation is due to overbooking, which can trigger denied-boarding compensation up to $1,550 depending on the delay. For flights within Haiti, the relevant laws are local. Sunrise Airways’ conditions of carriage will define what they owe.

Are there compensation differences between U.S. and foreign carriers?

Yes. U.S. carriers must follow DOT rules; foreign carriers operating outside the U.S. follow their home country’s regulations. Sunrise Airways, as a Haitian carrier flying entirely within Haiti and the Caribbean, is not subject to DOT compensation requirements.

What does Sunrise Airways’ contract of carriage say?

The airline’s official website does not prominently publish a full contract of carriage, but the suspension notice implies that passengers should contact them for rebooking or refund options. Without explicit disclosure, affected passengers should assume the carrier will offer rebooking on its own remaining routes (e.g., Cap-Haïtien) or a refund.

What this means: you are likely entitled to the value of your ticket, but don’t expect extra compensation — the Caribbean market rarely offers it.

Are there any flights out of Haiti?

Yes — though options are limited. Besides Sunrise Airways’ own flights from Cap-Haïtien, international carriers such as American Airlines, JetBlue, and Air France still operate some flights out of Port-au-Prince, subject to safety assessments. A local news clip noted that U.S. airlines had stopped flying to Haiti in March 2025, meaning only foreign carriers or flights originating from outside the FAA ban (like from Cap-Haïtien) remain.

What alternative airlines serve Haiti?

• Sunrise Airways: flights from Cap-Haïtien to Miami (limited schedule, high demand).
• Air France: flights from Port-au-Prince to Paris and possibly other Caribbean hubs.
• Other regional carriers: check flight aggregators for real-time availability.

How can I check current flight availability?

Use aggregators like Expedia or Kayak, but always verify directly with the airline before booking. Given the volatility, schedules change rapidly.

The pattern: capacity is extremely limited and prices are high — a one-way Miami seat from Cap-Haïtien was reportedly $1,000 and fully booked for days.

Timeline of events

• Prior weeks to Nov 24, 2025: Escalating gang violence and civil unrest in Port-au-Prince, including an attempted takeover of the airport in March 2025 that grounded U.S. carriers.
• November 24, 2025: Gunfire strikes three planes on the tarmac at Toussaint Louverture International Airport. Sunrise Airways suspends all flights to/from Port-au-Prince indefinitely. The airline cites “strictly security-related reasons.” (local Haitian news clip)
• Ongoing: FAA maintains its ban on U.S. commercial flights to Haiti. Sunrise Airways resumes Miami service from Cap-Haïtien as a workaround, but seats fill quickly.

This sequence underscores how quickly the security situation deteriorated and forced operational shutdowns.

Quotes from key sources

“We have temporarily suspended all arriving and departing flights to and from Port-au-Prince for strictly security-related reasons.”

— Sunrise Airways, via official statement (Sunrise Airways official site)

“The FAA has extended its prohibition on U.S. commercial flights to Haiti until further notice due to ongoing safety risks.”

— FAA spokesperson, as reported in local Haitian news

For travelers in Haiti, the choice is clear: wait for Sunrise Airways to resume Port-au-Prince flights, or book a seat on an alternative carrier out of Cap-Haïtien — but expect high prices and limited availability.

Frequently asked questions