The inaugural direct flight of Delta Air Lines from Atlanta to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, took off yesterday Saturday, April 7 at 11:15. This new weekly flight [every Saturday] was marked by a very successful celebration. Besides passengers, the Consulate General of Haiti in Atlanta celebrated with its friends in the community, with officials of the city of Atlanta, as well as with executives of the Coca-Cola company, of Delta airlines and the board of directors of Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International airport.

Gandy Thomas, the Consul General of Haiti in Atlanta stressed that this new direct link between the city of Atlanta and Port-au-Prince will bring limitless opportunities between the two communities "We applaud our friends and those always there with us aiding us to push and move Haiti forward. As you see it, Haiti is definitely Open for Business!"

After requesting a minute of silence in remembrance of those who lost their lives on January 12, 2010, Gandy Thomas, then called on businesses to seek investment opportunities in Haiti. The Consul said he was optimistic about the prospects of success of this new route, "travel time is reduced because because there would no longer be the necessity of stopovers in either New York or Miami" he also clarified, that the flight of 3 hours would be even shorter if U.S. airlines were able to fly over Cuba, hoping that in the future, such authorization would be granted. The Haitian community in Atlanta, with more than 40,000 members could be a contributing factor to the success of this new route.

Consul Thomas has also shown positively about the opportunities to revive tourism in Haiti, mentioning the strength of this sector in the 1960s and 70s, adding that the country had more to offer than just tourism, speaking of tax incentives and other initiatives put in place to attract manufacturing facilities. While encouraging large companies to explore opportunities in Haiti, the Consul General also noted that there are opportunities for small and medium enterprises. For example, Paul Anderson, a biomass energy consultant and developer of a clean-burning stove, was taking the flight to promote his technology in Haiti.

Was also present on the inaugural flight, youth from a Christian organization based in Bemus Point, Illinois, who went to Galette for help a team build a new school.

Susan Judson, Delta’s general manger of hub operations; Candice Byrd, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed’s chief of staff and Louis Miller, aviation general manager, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, all spoke positively of the prospect of this new air link.

"The Haitian diaspora in Atlanta is delighted about Delta Air Lines' commitment to Haiti through the addition of this new route [...] I expect this nonstop access to Port-au-Prince to be used immediately and often by Haitians living in metro Atlanta as well as by the Atlanta business community pursuing new opportunities for economic development and job creation in Haiti" had declared the day before, the Consul Thomas.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-5335-haiti-travel-saturday-inaugural-flight-atlanta-port-au-prince.html

HL/ SL/ HaitiLibre