MEA resumes overflights of Syrian territory

Lebanon's caretaker Public Works and Transportation Minister Ali Hamieh announced on Sunday that Lebanon's national carrier, Middle East Airlines (MEA), had resumed its flights over Syria, calling on Iraqi Airways to do the same and resume flights to Beirut.

“Middle East Airlines aircraft are flying over Syria to various airports in Iraq and other Arab countries, following contacts between the [Lebanese] Directorate General of Civil Aviation and both the International Civil Aviation Organization and Damascus Airport,” he wrote on X.

“We call on Iraqi Airways to resume its flights from Iraq to Lebanon and back, given that it has been granted permission to resume operations since Nov. 27, 2024,” he added.

According to an informed source at MEA, the company almost always flew over Syria during the war, except in times of heightened tension.

It had suspended its overflights of Syrian territory last weekend when the rebel offensive escalated, and then after the fall of the Assad regime, but resumed these flights yesterday, Saturday.

Iraqi Airways operated a flight between Baghdad and Beirut in the first week of December, following the announcement of the cease-fire in Lebanon. However, the Iraqi authorities announced earlier this week that this route would be temporarily suspended, citing a security concern relating to the developments in Syria, which its aircraft must fly over.

Since the cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect, many airlines have resumed their flights to and from Beirut. Others, mainly European carriers, have yet to follow suit.