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Following the implementation of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, international airlines have gradually started resuming their connections to Beirut. During the conflict (September-November 2024), they had suspended flights to Beirut International Airport (BIA) due to security concerns.
From the onset of the escalating conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, all international airlines suspended their flights to Lebanon. Among them, major carriers such as Air France, Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines halted their routes to Beirut, citing security concerns for passengers and crew amid ongoing bombardments and the inability to guarantee safe conditions for takeoff and landing. As a result, Lebanon’s national carrier, Middle East Airlines (MEA), became the only airline maintaining the country’s connections to the rest of the world.
The suspension of international flights not only restricted travel for Lebanese citizens, but also dealt a further blow to the country’s already fragile tourism sector. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s economy, already reeling from internal crises, suffered yet another setback as the disruption of international connections further exacerbated its difficulties.
International Airlines Resume Operations
While some airlines resumed flights to Beirut as early as December, others have only just added the city back to their schedules. On February 1, Air France, Emirates Airlines, Cyprus Airways and FlyDubai resumed their routes to Lebanon. Air France will initially operate five flights per week before increasing to seven, while Cyprus Airways will offer three weekly flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Emirates Airlines and FlyDubai will each operate daily flights.
Royal Jordanian restarted its daily flights in early December, along with Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Qatar Airways, Pegasus Airlines, Air Arabia, Etihad Airways, Kuwait Airways, Iraqi Airways, EgyptAir and SundAir.
Meanwhile, Transavia, the low-cost subsidiary of Air France, is set to resume flights between Beirut and Paris on February 13, with three weekly flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Starting in March, it will increase to daily service, though there has been no confirmation yet on the resumption of its routes to other French cities.
The Lufthansa Group, which also includes Swiss and Eurowings, has suspended its flights until the end of February but plans to reassess the situation in mid-February. Aegean Airlines, popular among Lebanese travelers, has also yet to add Beirut back to its list of destinations.
"Not all airlines serving Beirut (about 60) have returned yet, but this is normal because many only operate during peak seasons," said Jean Abboud, president of the head of the travel and tourism offices syndicate, in an interview with This is Beirut. He did, however, emphasize that activity at BIA has reached 85% of its usual level compared to 2024. "This is very good, especially considering everything Lebanon has gone through and the fact that it's an off-season for the travel sector," he noted.
As for bookings, Abboud believes they will see a significant increase once the government is formed.
According to figures provided by BIA, the number of passengers declined by 20.8% between 2023 and 2024.
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