Air Travel Resumption to Beirut Amidst Fragile Ceasefire
Following a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah in late November 2024, Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY) is seeing a cautious resumption of international flights. This development is crucial for Lebanon, which has been significantly affected by the recent escalations of conflict. The airport, serving as the nation’s primary international gateway, had seen a drastic reduction in flight operations during the hostilities. As stability tentatively returns, various airlines are evaluating the viability of resuming services, with some regional carriers already recommencing flights.
The resumption process is being spearheaded by Middle East Airlines, Lebanon’s national carrier, which continued limited operations even at the peak of the conflict. According to local media sources including The New Arab, other airlines from the Middle East and North Africa region have followed suit. However, Western carriers remain more cautious, with plans to delay resuming flights until they can further assess the situation.
Government and Airline Responses to the Resumption
Lebanon’s Caretaker Minister of Public Works and Transport, Ali Hamieh, officially announced on December 4, 2024, that the government had approved the resumption of airline operations at BEY. “Most Arab and foreign airlines should be back to normal operations by mid-December,” stated Hamieh. This strategic timing aligns with the anticipated surge in travel demand during the Christmas and New Year holidays, providing a much-needed boost to Lebanon’s economy.
Airlines resuming operations include Royal Jordanian, with daily flights from Amman commencing on December 1, 2024, and Turkish Airlines, which started flying from Istanbul on December 3, 2024, after a slight delay. Ethiopian Airlines and Qatar Airways are set to resume flights on December 8 and 9, respectively, focusing on connecting Beirut with African and Gulf destinations. Emirates and Etihad Airways are also planning to restart services from Dubai and Abu Dhabi midway through December.
On the other hand, EgyptAir and Iraqi Airways are cautiously scheduling their resumption, with plans still being finalized. Western European carriers like Air France and Lufthansa Group are taking a more conservative approach by extending their suspension of flights to Beirut, citing ongoing security concerns. Air France has postponed the resumption of its Paris to Beirut route until at least January 5, 2025, while Lufthansa Group does not anticipate a return before March 2025.
Impact on Lebanon’s Aviation and Economy
The controlled resumption of air services is seen as a pivotal step towards economic recovery in Lebanon. The aviation sector, crucial for the nation’s connectivity and economic stability, has suffered greatly due to prolonged periods of conflict. The return of airlines not only signifies a move towards normalization but also boosts confidence in Lebanon’s security situation and its capacity to handle international traffic amidst ongoing challenges.
The government and airlines are collaboratively working to ensure that the resumption of flights is conducted with the highest safety standards, aiming to rebuild passenger confidence and stimulate international tourism and business travel that are vital for Lebanon’s economic resurgence.