Lighting and fueling stations will be added to the one-kilometer (3,300-foot) Jacmel airstrip in southern Haiti to make it operational 24 hours per day, MacKay said.

The air field lacks radar equipment, so HMCS Halifax anchored offshore will direct air traffic, he said.

"Once this airstrip has been cleared for use, the Canadian Forces will be in a position to control, manage the air space in the region of Haiti to allow our aircraft, Canadian Forces aircraft to move in and out of Haiti and avoid the congestion that we've seen at the Port-au-Prince airport since the mission began," MacKay said.

Jamaica has agreed to allow Canada to use its airport as a relay point to ease traffic into Haiti, he added.

To date, the Canadian military has airlifted over half a million pounds of aid into Haiti, including relief goods, equipment and supplies, said MacKay.

"We now have over 1,000 Canadian forces personnel on the ground taking part in this unprecedented (relief) effort," he noted.

Two more military helicopters were on the way to join five already in Haiti helping distribute aid. A Canadian light infantry battalion also stands ready to deploy, said MacKay.

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