Mr. Philippe Bayard•©️EurekAlert
Port-au-Prince, 16 July 2025.- In a context where commercial aviation in Haiti is a source of intense controversy, Sunrise Airways, the only Haitian airline operating, affirms its authority by excluding any non-American or Haitian external competition. In an exclusive interview with Ayibopost, the company's president, Mr. Philippe Bayard, made it clear that only companies with regulation in Haiti or the United States have the right to operate in the Haitian sky.
A controversial statement
Mr. Bayard pointed the finger at Aruba Airlines, accusing the airline of trying to settle on the Haitian/United States route without legitimacy. According to him, Aruba has neither Haitian nor American status to ensure this journey, insisting that any company wishing to operate in this area must be in accordance with the regulations in force and registered in one of these two countries.
In addition, Sunrise Airways' president states that the company does not seek to monopolize the Haitian sky, but to enforce standards and discipline in the country's commercial aviation. A statement that raises the question: is Sunrise Airways a legitimate company to define who can or cannot fly in Haitian airspace?
Conflicting relationship with the State and issues of sovereignty
Mr. Bayard also states that Sunrise did not receive any financing or insurance from the Haitian state, but only a letter of credit to cover possible accidents. This positioning indicates a concern for sovereignty, but also raises the question of the company's legitimacy vis-à-vis the Haitian state.
Criticism is also expressed about the management of Sunrise Airways. The company is regularly pinned for delays in the delivery of luggage, rising rates in the midst of a security crisis, and growing dissatisfaction among the population. These problems highlight the fragility of commercial aviation in Haiti and raise a debate about the company's legitimacy to exert such a great influence on national airspace.
Key questions:
Is the legitimacy of Sunrise Airways to define who can or cannot operate in the Haitian sky legal or simply claim?
Has the company exceeded its limits by standing as an arbitrator of Haitian airspace, to the detriment of national authorities?
In the end, is Sunrise Airways stronger than the Haitian state in managing its own air sector?
This debate highlights the issues of sovereignty, regulation and governance in a sector as sensitive as commercial aviation in Haiti. The question remains: who should decide who can fly in the Haitian sky? The answer could well define the future of national aviation and the sovereignty of the country.
WA
