Haiti Guide: Charter Flights in Haiti

With the increased need/desire for in-country flights due to the current civil unrest in Haiti, it seems that people, including myself, have been looking for more information on charter flights in Haiti. Having coordinated dozens of these flights over the years for work and personal trips, I wanted to share the tips and tricks I have learned, as well as the current information I have gathered from recent trips. I know there is more information and insight available, so I look forward to hearing what you share too!

QUICK RUNDOWN OF CHARTER FLIGHTS IN HAITI

Simply put, if you need a flight, contact the following people / organizations and work with them to schedule a flight.

Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF)

www.mafhaiti.org

HT-bookings@maf.org

*My preferred choice, but currently have limited availability.

Pilot Celestin

+509-3745-8090

Pilot Jacky

Scheduling by Sylvie

+509-4885-1821

+509 37 68 0000

Pilot Roger Bartels

Scheduling by Jiklene

+509-4754-4770 or FlightRequest@GSAC.com.ht

A charter plane in Haiti, at the Jacmel Airport

IN-DEPTH LOOK AT CHARTER FLIGHTS IN HAITI

This how it all works…as best I understand it.

COST: When chartering a flight in Haiti, this means you are paying for the "entire plane." It doesn't matter if you have 1 passenger or 4 passengers, the cost stays the same. This is because the expenses for pilot / organization remain the same, independent of the number of passengers. Therefore, the best way to reduce costs on these charter flights is to try and fill the plane with passengers, therefore, reducing the per passenger cost. For example, if you charter a 5-passenger plane for $800 and only have 2 passengers, the cost per passenger would be $400. If you have 4 passengers, the cost would be $200 per passenger. And so on. Whatever the cost, be prepared to pay cash for the flight, especially for the independent pilots. (TIP: If your schedule is somewhat flexible, call the pilots and ask around for charter flights that may already be scheduled and try to buy a seat on the flight. This is of benefit to the person / group chartering the flight as they can reduce their per passenger cost and can be of benefit to the pilots as they may have other people looking to book a flight, but cannot commit to it because they need to find people with whom to share the costs.)

WEIGHT: These planes are typically small will most likely have a weight limit. Therefore, the more passengers you have the less weight and space you have available for luggage. For example, I know that one 5-passenger plane in Haiti has a weight limit of 950 pounds (430 kg) for passengers and cargo / luggage. That would mean with 4 passengers, each passenger, plus their luggage could weigh an average of 238 pounds (108 kg). With 5 passengers, each passenger plus their luggage could weigh an average of 190 pounds (86 kg). Because of these weight constrictions, it is common that the pilots and/or their staff weigh you and your luggage before getting on the plane. (TIP: They are not interested in how much you weigh, they just want to know how much weight you and your belongings add to the plane. Therefore, if you are self-conscious about your weight, step on the scale with your carry-on bag so that no-one will know your actual body weight.) (Check out these additional packing tips from MAF.)

My girlfriend and I boarding a plane in PAP

SCHEDULING: Ideally, you want to know your travel dates and times weeks or months in advance and plan your trips accordingly. With that being said, based on recent experiences, it seems like it is best to not only book your flight weeks in advance, but also have back-up options lined up in case weather, mechanical issues, or pilot's scheduling conflicts impact your flight. Just as you may be trying to shop around for a best price, the pilots are likely shopping around for the best flight times that enable them to maximize their time in the air, aka when they make money. This could lead to your flight time getting changed. Regarding the weather, while it doesn't happen often,  some flights are have to be rescheduled when it is rainy or very cloudy. With all this being said, patience and flexibility are key when scheduling these flights. (TIP: If you are booking a charter flight in relation to an international flight, most of these charter flights ask you to schedule the flight 2 hrs after / before your arrival / departure.) (Check out these additional scheduling tips from MAF.)

AIRPORTS: I believe that nearly all the charter flights are based at the Guy Malary Airport (Aerogare) in Port au Prince. The charters use the same runway as the international airport, but arrivals and departures for these local charter flights take place at Guy Malary Airport, which is just a two minute drive from the international airport. For other airports in the country, I am aware of Jeremie, Les Cayes, Jacmel, Gonaives, Mole St. Nicolas, Port de Paix, and Cap Haitian. *Update: Gonaives is a private airstrip and arrangements must be made with the Ebenezer Mission to use it, +509-4274-2513. (I know there are more, so please comment as to which airports / landing strips you know are functional.)

Flying into the Jacmel Airport

So there you have it, this is all the current information I have about charter flights in Haiti. But I am sure I am missing valuable information and insight. Please add / comment on this topic in the comments section below so that we can update this information and make it as useful as possible. Thanks and safe travels!