Beirut international airport

LAF Deploys After Motorcade Rallies in Beirut’s Southern Suburbs

Following the Lebanese government’s approval of the objectives outlined in the US paper to reinforce the ceasefire, and the withdrawal of the Shia Duo’s ministers from Thursday’s Cabinet session, videos circulated online showing supporters of the two parties parading on motorcycles and waving party flags in the Roueis area of Beirut’s ...

Beirut Airport Sees Surge in Passenger Traffic in July 2025

Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport experienced a significant increase in activity during July 2025, both in terms of passenger numbers and airline traffic to and from Lebanon. The most notable rise was in the number of incoming passengers, which jumped by over 15% compared to July 2024. A total of 873,095 passengers traveled through ...

1957: A Crash, Gold and Shadows of Mystery

This is the story of the Curtiss C-46 operated by Air Liban, which crashed off the coast of Beirut in 1957 with around 30 passengers on board. According to witness accounts and expert testimony, the aircraft was transporting a shipment of gold estimated between 400 and 450 kilograms, bound for Kuwait. While the crash itself raises questions, what ...

Lebanon Sees Modest Summer Travel Rebound

Lebanon's travel industry is experiencing a cautious recovery this summer, with Beirut International Airport (BIA) showing signs of revived activity since early July, according to Jean Abboud, president of the Lebanese Travel Agencies Association. Speaking on Friday, Abboud noted a noticeable uptick in both flight numbers and passenger traffic. ...

State Security Uncovers Smuggling Network at BIA

The Information and Investigation Section of State Security’s Beirut Regional Directorate has dismantled an organized network involved in smuggling cosmetics, medical equipment and large sums of money through Beirut International Airport (BIA). In a statement released on Thursday, State Security identified the arrested individuals by their ...

Seven Million Dollars Seized at Beirut Airport

According to sources quoted by al-Hadath, $7 million were recently seized at Beirut International Airport, noting that "the smuggled funds were discovered in suitcases aboard a flight arriving from an African country to Lebanon." According to the same sources, "the owners of the bags containing the illicit money are from a town in southern ...

BIA Sees Sharp Rebound in Passenger Traffic

Passenger traffic at Beirut International Airport (BIA) has surged again following a brief slowdown caused by heightened regional tensions. On Wednesday alone, the airport recorded 11,203 arrivals, marking a significant uptick in travel activity that may continue in the coming days. The rebound comes as several major Arab and international ...

Rasamny Highlights Air Travel Recovery and Security at BIA and Port

Minister of Public Works and Transport Fayez Rasamny announced on Friday that several airlines, including Cyprus Airways, have begun gradually resuming flights to and from Lebanon, following a government-approved strategy to keep the country’s airspace open despite heightened regional tensions. The announcement comes in the aftermath of a ...

Lebanon Hoped for Tourists and Got War Instead

Tourism, a vital sector that accounted for over 20% of Lebanon’s GDP before the 2019 crisis, was poised to provide a much-needed boost to the country’s battered economy. Following Eid al-Adha, hotel occupancy rates in Beirut surged to 80%, signaling a bright season ahead. “We had a surge of bookings for the next two weeks, but they’re ...

After the Strikes on Iran, Lebanon Holds Its Breath

Lebanon remains on quiet alert after Israel claimed responsibility early on Friday for a series of large-scale strikes targeting Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure. While the thunder of missiles rumbled in the distance, the political, logistical and emotional aftershocks are already reverberating across Lebanese society. A Subtle ...

Adha in Lebanon: Full Hotels, Bustling Streets and a Resilient Spirit

Many expected the bombings to deter visitors. But in true Lebanese fashion, the country delivered a weekend of Eid al-Adha that rivaled its best tourism seasons. The numbers speak for themselves: nearly 300,000 travelers passed through Beirut Airport in May, which is the highest monthly total since 2019. The atmosphere was festive, the coast ...