Toussaint Louverture International Airport is an international airport located in Tabarre, a commune of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti. The airport is currently the busiest airport in Haiti and is an operations centre for Sunrise Airways. It is unofficially called “Maïs-Gâté airport”, named after the area on the Cul-de-Sac Plain where the airport was built.
The main building of the airport serves as the International Terminal. It is a two-storey concrete and glass structure. The Guy Malary Terminal (named after former Haitian Minister of Justice Guy Malary) is used for domestic flights. There are other buildings used for general aviation, cargo and private jet flights. The airport has three jet bridges, but most passengers board aircraft on foot via mobile stairs. The ramp area can handle 12 aircraft.
Haiti private jet charter prices
Although Toussaint Louverture Airport air charter fees depend on variables such as the number of passengers, departure airport, flight time, aircraft position, flight date, the prices for private jet charter from Istanbul → Port-au-Prince are as follows.
| Heavy Jet | 115.450 EUR |
| Long Range Jet | 130.300 EUR |
| VIP Airliner | 180.700 EUR |
These prices are average amounts and you can contact us on our flight reservation screen or by phone for the most accurate price information.
Port-au-Prince Airport history
During the United States occupation of Haiti, the United States Marine Corps stationed Naval Observation units using HS-1 and HS-2 aircraft at what later became Bowen Field.
In 1942, the USMC was sent to Haiti to construct a facility to service Douglas O-38 aircraft used by the Haitian Air Force to observe Nazi German activities in the area. The USMC built Bowen Field (also known as Chancerelles Airport), a small civilian and military airfield located in the Chancerelles area near Baie de Port-au-Prince. Bowen Field was used by the Haitian Air Force for mail (1943) and passenger (1944) services, then from 1961 it was used by the Compagnie haïtienne de transports aériens. In the 1950s and 1960s it served as an air base for the US military in Haiti. The current airport, located northeast of Bowen Field, was developed with grant money from the US government and money raised mainly from the Haitian people (taxes, lotteries, etc.) and opened in 1965 as François Duvalier International Airport, named after then Haitian President François “Papa Doc” Duvalier. Decommissioned after 1994, the former Bowen site is now home to the Internally Displaced Persons Camp and Centre Sportif. The runway is now part of the Haile Selassie Boulevard.
Duvalier’s son and successor Jean-Claude Duvalier resigned in 1986. The airport was renamed Port-au-Prince International Airport. Haitian President Jean Bertrand Aristide renamed the airport Toussaint Louverture International Airport in 2003 to honour Toussaint Louverture, leader of the Haitian Revolution.
The airport was badly damaged in the 2010 Haiti earthquake. On 25 November 2012, Haitian President Michel Joseph Martelly inaugurated the newly repaired arrivals terminal.
Cities and important places to visit in Haiti
Haiti is an interesting travel destination for travellers with its rich cultural heritage, natural beauty and historical sites. The capital, Port-au-Prince, is the largest city in Haiti and is the first port of call for visitors to experience Haitian culture. Important sights in the city include the Artists’ Market, where the works of famous artists are on display, and the mausoleum of the national hero Toussaint Louverture. In addition, the castles on the hills around the city are historically and culturally interesting places.
Jacmel is a city on the south coast of Haiti and is known for its colonial architecture. The colourful houses and streets, the El Saut d’Eau waterfall, and Jacmel’s carnivals have made it one of Haiti’s top tourist destinations.
Among Haiti’s natural beauties, Labadee Beach in Cap-Haïtien, in the north of the country, is a popular tourist destination. In addition, Kokoye Harbour near Les Cayes on the southwest coast of the country is famous for its turquoise waters and coral reefs. The island of Ile-à-Vache, located in the south-west of Haiti, is a tourist area famous for its seaside towns, sandy beaches and historical ruins.
Finally, must-see sights in Haiti include the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sans Souci Palace and Citadelle Laferrière. These buildings are of particular interest to tourists interested in Haiti’s history from the time of slavery.
Toussaint Louverture airport transport routes
Haiti’s Toussaint Louverture International Airport is approximately 10 kilometres from the centre of Port-au-Prince. There are several options to reach the city centre from the airport.
It is possible to reach Port-au-Prince by taxi or private car hire service from the airport. There are many companies offering taxis and car hire services for tourists at the airport terminal. The journey by taxi or private car takes approximately 10 minutes.
It is also an easy way to reach the city centre by buses departing from the bus stops located at the port exit. However, the buses are generally crowded and the timetables are irregular.
