When Evacuation Costs $10,000 a Seat, Only the Rich Fly—While the Nation Suffocates
By The Haitian Pulse Editorial Team
June 7, 2025
A Nation Paralyzed by Fear and Inaccessibility
Across Haiti, the ability to move has become a matter of class—and in some cases, survival. With gangs seizing control of highways and insecurity tightening its grip on the population, the freedom to travel has been stripped from the masses.
What remains is a broken system where only the most privileged can escape danger or conduct business between cities like Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haïtien, Jérémie, and Les Cayes.
And at the height of recent unrest, the only escape available came with an outrageous price tag:
$10,000 USD per seat for private helicopter evacuations.
Let that sink in. Ten. Thousand. Dollars.
In a country where millions live on less than $3 per day, the right to move became a commodity priced for the global elite.
Helicopter Travel: An Illusion of Access
Services like Helico S.A. in Port-au-Prince offer touristic flights ranging from $60 to $2,500—but those are for short rides or sightseeing, not intercity travel. Real cross-country helicopter trips can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $4,000+ on a normal day. During crises, that number skyrockets—as we've seen—to $10,000 or more.
This is not transportation. It’s segregation by air.
And it paints a grim picture: only the wealthy can afford to live, move, or flee.
Sunrise Airways: A Flicker of Hope… with a Caveat
In an attempt to restore at least minimal national mobility, the Haitian government granted Sunrise Airways an irrevocable letter of credit and an $11 million insurance backstop to resume flights between key cities.
While the return of Sunrise flights offers hope for reconnection, officials were quick to point out: this is a one-time deal. No other airline will receive this kind of support. There is no national transportation strategy—just a desperate stopgap.
A government source cited by Le Nouvelliste acknowledged that “the initial investment to create an airline is so high that it creates a natural barrier to competition.” The skies may reopen—but only just.
No Transport, No Progress
Without affordable domestic transport, the ripple effect is devastating:
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Students can’t reach universities.
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Farmers and merchants can’t access broader markets.
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Patients can’t get to critical care.
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Businesses die in place.
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Families are torn apart across provinces.
It’s not just about inconvenience. It’s about national survival.
A country that cannot move cannot grow—and cannot heal.
The Helicopter Age Must End—It Was Never Meant to Begin
Helicopter transport was never a real solution. It was a band-aid for the rich, applied over a hemorrhaging wound.
But the truth is, Haiti doesn’t need more helicopters—it needs a plan:
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Secure and subsidize overland bus and transport corridors
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Expand maritime travel for coastal cities
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Modernize regional airports and regulate fair airfare
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Organize informal sectors like moto-taxis into safe, reliable systems
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Mobilize diaspora capital to fund long-term transportation infrastructure
Transportation should never be a luxury. It is a public right and national necessity.
Have Your Say
Is the Haitian government doing enough to fix the transportation crisis?
Should there be a national mobility plan, or are we risking a complete societal collapse?
👇 Tell us what you think in the comments. The Haitian Pulse is your voice—your platform.
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