25589: Hermantin(news)American to reduce its flights to Haiti by half (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

AIRLINES

American to reduce its flights to Haiti by half



By Niala Boodhoo
Business Writer

July 6, 2005

American Airlines will cut half its daily flights from Miami to Port-au-Prince 
Haiti beginning next week, the airline said Tuesday.

A local spokeswoman said the cuts were not because of the increasing violence 
in the Caribbean nation, where last week, the International Red Cross said one 
of its workers was kidnapped and killed.

In late May, the U.S. State Department warned Americans against travel to Haiti 
and evacuated nonessential embassy personnel.

"This is just a seasonal adjustment," said spokeswoman Martha Pantin. "We have 
a long history in Haiti and we're proud of the service we've provided there for 
many years."

American will cut one of its four daily flights from Miami on July 15, and a 
second flight will be cut Aug. 23. One of two daily flights from JFK 
International Airport in New York will be cut today, the airline said. The 
airline has one daily flight from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International to 
Port-au-Prince that will not be changed.

Pantin said passengers holding tickets on the cancelled flights will be 
accommodated on other flights, and urged customers to visit the airline's Web 
site, www.aa.com, or to contact their travel professional.

Gepsie Metellus, executive director of Sant La, the Haitian Neighborhood Center 
in Miami, said the decision to cut back flights make it look like "we're 
isolating Haiti more and more."

"What happens when it's really rough and you have a bunch of people trying to 
leave?" she asked. "In a country where you don't have the infrastructure of a 
variety of carriers, this isn't going to be easy."

Niala Boodhoo can be reached at nboodhoo@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4208.


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