Saturday, February 16 around 9:00 am, the first of 113 Quebec tourists including many from the Haitian diaspora, blocked at the Royal Decameron Hotel Indigo Beach Resort & Spa in Haiti because of civil unrest since February 10th https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26930-haiti-crisis-7th-days-of-demonstrations-at-least-2-dead-and-thirty-wounded.html , have begun to leave the Hotel in board of 4 helicopters chartered by Air Transat, bound for Toussaint Louverture airport

The transport of the tourists lasted several hours, 5 trips having been necessary to each of the 4 helicopters to complete the transfer of everyone.

This operation was orchestrated by Air Transat, in collaboration with the local authorities, the Canadian Embassy in Port-au-Prince and the Canadian Government to ensure the safety of passengers.

These 113 tourists, along with a few passengers from other airlines and Canadian residents wishing to return to Canada, boarded flight TS667, a 250-seat Airbus A310, which took off for Canada at approximately 4:30 pm landed to Montreal-Trudeau airport at 9:12 pm with relief.

"We are proud of our team in Haiti and Global Affairs Canada for supporting Air Transat's efforts to ensure the safe departure of Canadians at the Decameron Hotel. The Embassy team continues to provide consular services to Canadians in Haiti. The collaboration between Air Transat, the Government of Canada and our Embassy in Haiti was exceptional. Thank you Air Transat and congratulations," said Canada's Ambassador to Haiti André Frenette.

Note that until further notice, Air Transat continues to fly twice a week (Wednesday and Sunday) to and from Toussaint Louverture Airport in Port-au-Prince.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26950-haiti-tourism-hard-blow-for-haiti-and-the-development-of-the-haitian-tourism-sector.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26930-haiti-crisis-7th-days-of-demonstrations-at-least-2-dead-and-thirty-wounded.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25826-haiti-flash-look-voyage-renounces-operating-its-lookea-club-in-haiti-due-to-instability.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-26947-icihaiti-security-the-hundred-of-quebec-tourists-stranded-in-haiti-soon-evacuated-update.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-26928-icihaiti-demonstrations-quebec-tourists-blocked-in-haiti-for-several-days.html

S/ iciHaiti