Haiti air space restricted, some flights getting in

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. and Haitian authorities imposed tight restrictions on aircraft bound for quake-stricken Haiti on Friday due to airport crowding and logistical hurdles, but more aid flights got through, officials said.

U.S. President Barack Obama said help had reached Haiti's main airport in Port-au-Prince from the United States, and countries including Brazil, Mexico, Canada, France, Colombia, Russia, Japan, and Britain also sent planes with rescue and logistics personnel and supplies.

Commercial flights have been banned since Tuesday's devastating quake in which tens of thousands are feared dead. U.S. carriers serving Haiti include American Airlines and Spirit Airlines. American had been scheduled to fly in relief supplies.

The White House was hopeful the aid pipeline would accelerate.

"We've got security at the airport," Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said. "And, hopefully, with some smoothness can continue to get resources in, and then deal with how to get those resources distributed."

U.S. Air Force personnel established emergency logistics support over the past two days at Toussaint Louverture International Airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration assisted with setting up navigation systems but Haitian authorities remain in control of fragile air traffic services, U.S. officials said.

An FAA advisory on Friday covering relief efforts said only those flights with advance clearance to land in Port-au-Prince were being allowed through otherwise closed Haitian air space.

Large planes loaded with goods and arriving on long-distance international flights received priority, the FAA said.

The airport has limited capability to off-load supplies and no available fuel for departures.

Some flights have been diverted to Santo Domingo in the neighbouring Dominican Republic.

(Reporting by John Crawley; Editing by Peter Cooney)