Behind a polished logo and hollow press silence, a deeper truth is unraveling—one of calculated dominance and manipulation of Haiti's skies.
Aviation & Corruption | The Haitian Pulse Editorial Team | July 26, 2025
On the surface, Trogon Airways appears to be a promising new airline—a much-needed competitor in Haiti’s limited aviation space. Registered in Florida under Document Number L22000219740, with an EIN of 88-2219562, the company lists pilot Ernst Étienne as its authorized manager and principal contact. The company’s address: 3760 Cobb Road, Apopka, FL.
But behind this seemingly straightforward registration lies a more troubling reality: Trogon Airways is not a rival to Sunrise Airways—it is its creation.
Sources close to the matter confirm that Trogon Airways was conceived by none other than Philippe Bayard, the same businessman who owns Sunrise Airways, the de facto monopoly-holder over Haiti’s air routes for the past decade.
A Strategy to Crush, Not Compete
Rather than encourage innovation, Bayard’s latest maneuver appears designed to corner the market further, tightening the monopoly under the guise of diversity. By launching Trogon Airways as a legally distinct entity, the illusion of competition is created. But in reality, the same financial strings pull both puppets.
Trogon is not a fresh competitor—it’s a shadow subsidiary, crafted to block real contenders from taking flight.
Ernst Étienne, though a certified pilot, is listed as the public face of the airline. However, insiders allege that the true capital and influence behind the operation lead straight back to Bayard’s circle at Sunrise.
Suspicious Timing: A Coincidence or a Calculated Play?
A timeline of recent developments reveals a disturbing proximity between two seemingly unrelated events—one administrative, the other allegedly violent. In the same time period that Trogon Airways was reinstated and reactivated in U.S. filings, multiple reports surfaced claiming that commercial airliners were struck by gunfire as they approached or departed Haiti’s international airport. Spirit Airlines, JetBlue, and American Airlines were mentioned in these reports, which prompted precautionary landings and changes to flight routes. While the full details remain contested, the claims have stirred concern and speculation among aviation and security observers.
Shortly after the attacks, the FAA imposed a 30-day ban on all U.S. airline operations in Haitian airspace below 10,000 feet, citing severe security risks tied to gang violence. U.S. carriers suspended their service to and from Haiti, effectively grounding international competitors.
Although no formal link has been established between the reinstatement of Trogon Airways and the escalation of violence that led to international flight suspensions, the timing raises serious concerns. In a nation where economic sabotage is often veiled in bureaucratic moves, coincidences this precise rarely go unquestioned.
“We’re not saying someone pulled the trigger to benefit a private interest. But when monopolies rise just as rivals are grounded, it’s not paranoia—it’s a pattern.”
The details surrounding the airport shootings remain highly questionable. In a country where access to transparent investigations is often obstructed, the true motives and perpetrators behind such incidents are rarely revealed. These attacks must be seen through a wider lens of political interference and market manipulation.
For a population already grappling with travel restrictions, insecurity, and economic despair, the orchestration of timing—whether intentional or coincidental—continues to feed a system designed to benefit the few while shutting out the many.
Manipulating Airspace with Impunity
The reactivation of Trogon Airways—at a time when foreign airlines were temporarily suspended from Haitian airspace—granted Sunrise Airways a prime opportunity to tighten its grip while international competition was grounded. The move mirrors tactics seen in oligarch-controlled economies worldwide: eliminate competitors through confusion, legal maneuvering, and control of the narrative.
This level of manipulation over Haiti’s airspace—conducted without transparency or accountability—is not rooted in national development, but in unchecked greed.
Where’s the Press?
In countries with functioning democratic institutions, such moves would provoke outrage, media scrutiny, and possibly government intervention. But Haiti’s media landscape—largely owned or influenced by the same elites—has remained eerily silent. Aside from independent platforms like The Haitian Pulse, the country’s press corps appears disinterested in uncovering who really controls Trogon Airways.
The people are left uninformed. The press remains quiet. The game continues.
Demanding Transparency
Which entity controls Trogon Airways? Is Ernst Étienne acting alone, or is he a proxy for more powerful interests? Who is financing this new airline? Which public officials approved its entry? These are not academic questions—they are issues of sovereignty, equity, and justice.
“Which ever entity is creating the confusion needs to step forward. The Haitian population is dealing with enough chaos already. Transparency is golden.”
A Call to Action
Entrepreneurs, civil society leaders, and members of the diaspora are beginning to call for clear, regulated frameworks that prevent such power plays. A functioning transportation sector is not just about flights—it’s about national dignity, open markets, and public trust.
“This level of monopoly control over essential infrastructure is a betrayal of the Haitian people. Every industry held hostage is another door slammed on opportunity.”
Conclusion: The Fight for Fair Skies Has Just Begun
The registration details may list Étienne as the manager, but the fingerprints of this maneuver stretch far beyond one name. They point to a deeply embedded structure of privilege, manipulation, and economic capture.
The Haitian people deserve more than manipulated airspace and backdoor business deals. They deserve real competition. Real transparency. And above all, the freedom to choose who takes them to the skies.
The Haitian Pulse remains committed to exposing corruption and lifting the veil on all who prey on public trust for private gain. The days of backroom dominance must end—and that fight begins with truth.
Comments