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3. Kleiate Airport: Where Hope Takes Flight

Repeated announcements in recent weeks about the upcoming award of contracts for Kleiate Airport, also known as René Moawad Airport, have captured widespread public attention. The media buzz, fueled by references to potential funding from Arab countries, draws its power from the symbolic significance of the project, beyond its practical or economic value.

Major Public Contracts

Amid Lebanon’s deteriorating infrastructure, political leaders appear to be using the reopening of a long-dormant airport to restore a sense of hope among citizens. The project signals that modern development is possible, even in the midst of economic stagnation and political inertia.

References to foreign funding or contract awards also send a broader message to citizens and regional stakeholders, extending beyond the technical details of the project. In practice, the rehabilitation of Kleiate Airport represents substantial public contracts, drawing the attention of companies, shaping decision-makers’ calculations, and raising hopes for new employment opportunities for Lebanese citizens.

Feasibility Study

The feasibility study and master plan for Kleiate Airport, generously provided by the engineering firm Dar al-Handasah, were submitted over a month ago to Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Minister of Public Works Fayez Rassamny. The project, estimated at $200 million, now hinges on a critical decision: which public-private partnership model to adopt, BOT (Build, Operate, Transfer) or DBOT (Design, Build, Operate, Transfer).

Beyond technical and financial considerations, the rehabilitation of René Moawad Airport could transform Lebanon’s air transport landscape. By easing congestion at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport (BIA), Kleiate could inject new momentum into the northern economy and create nearly 5,000 direct jobs. Its strategic location, seven kilometers from the Syrian border, 26 kilometers from Tripoli, and 105 kilometers from Beirut, also raises unavoidable questions about security and regional traffic management.

For residents of Akkar and the Beqaa, the benefits are immediate. A traveler from Hermel, who currently must cover 180 kilometers to reach Beirut’s airport, would need to travel only about 20 kilometers to board a flight at Kleiate.

In a context of political inertia, the project has become a symbol of a Lebanon striving for future prosperity. Media coverage has been carefully cultivated, blending technical analysis with political considerations.