Private-public projects take flight

Haiti’s two main airports are Port-au-Prince, which has four flights daily with American Airlines to New York and Miami, and Cap Haitien in the north, which operates four daily flights with Air France to Miami and on to Martinique/Guadeloupe. Cap Haitien is also used by three local companies dealing with regular traffic: Tropical Airways, Caribbean Inter and Air d’Haiti, which use airplanes with 17 to 29 seats and offer more than 10 flights a day.

ADLER EDMA Managing Director of the National Airport Authority

Run by the National Airport Authority (AAN) under Managing Director Adler Edma, both major airports are in need of modernization and renovation. The petroleum giant Texaco is helping fund a $3 million project for Port-au-Prince airport. The project includes runway expansion, as well as extra building areas, such as a VIP room and an air conditioned immigration office. This venture is an encouraging breakthrough in a country where joint private-public projects are a rare occurrence. A projected Hilton-run hotel, planned for completion by 2004, should further enhance the airport’s facilities.
The provincial areas of Haiti also have access to air travel. “Another less important but interesting airport is Port-de-Paix,” says Mr. Edma. Though smaller, the Port-de-Paix airport provides an internal link with the island’s two main airports. There are also regular improved flights from Jérémie, the tiny capital of the north coast’s beautiful Grand Anse department.

Mr. Edma stresses the need for investment and further collaboration with foreign companies to help the economy get on its feet again and resents the traditional tendency of the international press to
“exaggerate” Haiti’s deficiencies. “The government and public sector are all working to change the image of the country,” he says. “We have been participating as technicians in various planning meetings and sessions
–especially those held on air traffic, navigation and airport structures.”