Aegean Airlines cancels flights, while Air France and Transavia resume operations

Aegean Airlines announced on Tuesday that it is canceling flights to Rafik Hariri International Airport (RHIA) until August 1 due to the security situation in the country. "We are continuously assessing the evolving situation and following the instructions of the relevant authorities," the Greek airline said in a statement relayed by Reuters.

This measure follows similar actions by several other airlines, while others, such as Middle East Airlines (MEA), Qatar Airways, and the German airline Sundair, continue to operate flights to Lebanon. The international community is concerned about potential Israeli retaliation against Hezbollah following the deadly attack in the occupied Golan on Saturday night. The attack, which Israel attributes to Hezbollah (which denies involvement), killed twelve children and teenagers. Air France and Transavia, which had suspended their flights for two days, announced on Tuesday that they would resume them the following day.

A Lebanese operator working in Europe, who wished to remain anonymous, noted that "the situation is confusing," mentioning conflicting flight cancellation announcements, such as those for EgyptAir, which still lists flights between Cairo and Beirut on its website.

Anticipating Israel’s retaliation: Key Hezbollah targets at risk

Anticipating Israel’s retaliation: Key Hezbollah targets at risk

MEA Flight Rescheduling

Aegean Airlines, which typically operates three flights per week to the Lebanese capital, joins a list that already includes Lufthansa Group carriers (including Eurowings and Swiss) and Air France-KLM (which owns Air France and Transavia).

A Lufthansa Group spokesperson had stated on Monday that flights by Lufthansa, Eurowings, and Swiss to the Lebanese capital are "canceled until Aug. 5 due to the current developments in the Middle East." Air France and Transavia had also announced the cancellation of their flights to Beirut on Monday and Tuesday. However, on Tuesday, an Air France-KLM spokesperson confirmed that the two airlines would resume operations starting Wednesday.

"At this stage, the resumption of flights between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Beirut is scheduled for July 31, 2024," the spokesperson said, adding that this decision "also applies to Transavia France," which connects Lebanon from Paris, as well as Marseille, Lyon, and Nice. Additionally, "commercial measures are in place, allowing customers with bookings for flights to or from Beirut scheduled before Aug. 4, 2024, to reschedule or cancel their trips free of charge," according to the same source.

In a statement released Monday, MEA announced that "its flights were all maintained on July 29 and 30, except for five flights (out of 35)." These flights, which were supposed to land in Beirut after midnight, have been rescheduled to the morning of July 30. The Lebanese airline cited "technical reasons related to the distribution of insurance risks for planes between Lebanon and abroad," but according to an informed source we contacted on Sunday, the changes were indeed due to developments in the south.

On Tuesday, MEA provided another update on flights modified for July 30 and 31. More similar updates may follow starting Wednesday. In another statement on Tuesday, MEA CEO Mohammad al-Hout also mentioned that the airline "has received no threats or information regarding a strike targeting RHIA."

MEA flights for July 30 and 31 maintained with minor adjustments

MEA flights for July 30 and 31 maintained with minor adjustments

This situation is not limited to MEA. During the night from Sunday to Monday, most flights to and from Beirut between midnight and 6 a.m. Monday were delayed or canceled. This included flights by Qatar Airways, Pegasus, Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and EgyptAir. Air traffic then returned to normal.

Qatar Airways updated its flight schedules for the period from July 29 to Aug. 5, in a message sent to Lebanese travel agencies and other partners. Flight QR 427 will now depart from Beirut at 7:00 p.m. local time instead of 8:20 p.m., and Flight QR 419 will now depart from Beirut at 9:45 a.m. instead of 1:40 a.m. The airline had already adjusted its flight schedules departing from Beirut on Sunday and Monday.

Flydubai also joined the list of airlines maintaining flights to Beirut on Tuesday, though it is adjusting its schedules and frequencies. The low-cost carrier previously operated three flights per day to Beirut. Emirates has not made a similar announcement at this time.