Fiery Protests Close Airport in Port-au-Prince

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Protests stemming from a disputed election in Haiti have forced the closing of the airport in Port-au-Prince, the New York Times reports. According to the Times, the protests come after a popular presidential candidate finished third in the first round of elections, prompting accusations of vote-rigging.

American Airlines had already suspended flights before the closing was announced. The Associated Press (AP) reported, “Airport employees were unable to get to work Wednesday because of the demonstrations,” but American had hoped to resume flights soon. With the airport now closed, flights may be on hold for some time.

American is the main carrier serving Port-au-Prince, but Delta and Spirit also fly to the capital city.

At the moment, there’s no sense of when the airport will reopen. The Times reports, “Haiti had remained calm this year after a devastating earthquake, a slow recovery, a deadly hurricane and a raging cholera epidemic. But the angry reactions to Tuesday night’s announcement raised concerns that a period of volatility could lie ahead.”

Needless to say, individuals traveling to Haiti should contact their airlines to reschedule or inquire about refunds, and keep a close eye on the security situation.