Lebanon is preparing for a resumption of Arab and international flights to Lebanon by mid-December. The resumption comes after air travel was severely disrupted during the recent conflict with Israel, leaving Middle East Airlines (MEA) as the sole operator.
With the holiday season approaching, the return of major airlines signals progress toward restoring normalcy and facilitating travel for the Lebanese diaspora and regional visitors.
Airlines Resuming Operations to Lebanon
Several carriers have confirmed or are planning to restart flights to Lebanon:
- Royal Jordanian: The first to resume operations, the airline has been running a daily Amman-Beirut flight since December 1.
- Turkish Airlines: After an initial delay, it resumed its Istanbul-Beirut service on December 3.
- Ethiopian Airlines: Scheduled to restart flights between Addis Ababa and Beirut on December 8.
- Qatar Airways: Set to resume operations on December 9 with one daily round-trip flight.
- EgyptAir: Tentatively scheduled to restart Cairo-Beirut flights on December 17, pending formal confirmation.
- Iraqi Airways: Planning a phased return of flights from Baghdad, Najaf, Sulaymaniyah, and Erbil starting December 8, though official announcements are pending.
- Emirates: Expected to restart flights from Dubai on December 9, despite earlier indications of a suspension until January 2025.
- Etihad Airways: Considering a December 18 restart for its Abu Dhabi-Beirut service.
Airlines Delaying Flights to Lebanon
Some carriers have chosen to postpone their return due to ongoing security concerns:
- Air France: Announced on December 2 that flights between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Beirut will remain suspended until January 5, 2025.
- Lufthansa Group: Including Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, and Eurowings, these carriers are unlikely to resume operations before March 2025.
Impact on Recovery and Travel
The resumption of flights marks a crucial step in Lebanon’s recovery, facilitating much-needed connectivity for economic activity and tourism. It also caters to the Lebanese diaspora eager to reunite with families during the holiday season. However, some carriers are waiting until after the holidays, citing security concerns and logistical considerations.
Check airlines resuming flights to Israel.
