🇭🇹 Jacmel Airport

Jacmel Airport (IATA: JAK, ICAO: MTJA) is a public airport serving Jacmel, Haiti, and is operated by the Autorité Aéroportuaire Nationale. It is located on Haiti's south coast, approximately 85 km from the capital, Port-au-Prince.

Notable Features and History: The airport was originally built for smaller commercial flight services and not large aircraft. Prior to the 2010 earthquake, it lacked air traffic control, runway lighting, an instrument landing system, radar, and other radio navigation aids, limiting it to daylight, good-weather operations. Its ramp could accommodate only five aircraft, and the maximum aircraft weight was 100,000 lbs.

Following the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the airport played a critical role in relief efforts. Canadian Forces CH-146 Griffon helicopters first used it on January 14, 2010, for reconnaissance. The Canadian Forces temporarily controlled the airport, installing runway lighting and an air traffic control facility, enabling 24-hour operations and accommodating up to 160 military and civilian flights daily. Initially, C-130 Hercules transports faced difficulty landing due to trees, but after tree and terrain clearings, the airport began accepting heavy-lift C-17 Globemasters from February 20, 2010. The airport's runway experienced degradation due to heavy use during this period. In March 2010, the Canadian Forces returned control to the Autorité Aéroportuaire Nationale. A new terminal building was inaugurated on September 9, 2010, and the asphalt runway (1,000 meters or 3,301 feet) was resurfaced.

Current Status: As of 2026, Jacmel Airport has resumed domestic flights. Sunrise Airways offers scheduled services to Cap-Haïtien and Port-au-Prince. The airport has one asphalt runway, 01/19, measuring 1,006 meters (3,301 feet). Its elevation is 167 feet (51 meters) above mean sea level. Ground transportation is primarily by car via Route 208.

*Sources researched: en.wikipedia.org, metar-taf.com, centreforaviation.com, ourairports.com*