BEIRUT — Several airlines are considering following the example of Royal Jordanian and Ethiopian Airlines to resume their Beirut services, according to information circulating among travel agencies. Royal Jordanian will recommence flights from Dec. 1, and Ethiopian Airlines from Dec. 8.
Among the airlines mentioned are Iraqi Airways (possible resumption on Sunday), Turkish Airlines (possible flight on Saturday, then regular flights from next week), Qatar Airways (two daily flights from Dec. 9), Emirates (no details yet) and FlyDubai (no details yet).
When contacted, Jean Abboud, President of the Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies in Lebanon, indicated that these airlines had not yet confirmed this information, but that they had already contacted the Lebanese Civil Aviation Authority to book or inquire about slots.
Middle East Airlines (MEA) was the only airline that never interrupted its service despite the intense bombardment of Beirut's southern suburbs, often within hundreds of meters, and sometimes even less than 200 meters, of the airport itself. MEA plans to increase its number of flights on Dec. 12 to cope with the sharp rise in demand.
A source at a third agency reports that Turkish Airlines management was ready to resume service as early as Saturday, but was asked to wait by the Turkish authorities. The latest indications are that the airline may resume flights to Beirut's airport on Monday or Tuesday. The same source indicates that Emirates may not resume flights until Jan. 1. Finally, on its website, Iraqi Airways offers flights between Baghdad and Beirut from Dec. 1.
