One of the halls of Beirut international airport. (Credit: Illustration photo Mohammad Yassin/L'OLJ)
Kuwait Airways and Iraqi Airways are set to resume flights to Beirut international airport by the end of the year, barring any last-minute changes, according to sources in Lebanon and Iraq.
Kuwait Airways’ return was confirmed to L'Orient Today by Jean Abboud, president of the Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies in Lebanon (ATTAL), as well as two Lebanese travel agencies and a source within Lebanon’s Civil Aviation Authority. The airline’s first flight is scheduled for Dec. 31, with regular operations resuming the next day.
For Iraqi Airways, Iraq's Transport Ministry announced plans to resume flights to Lebanon starting Monday, Reuters reported citing Iraq’s state news agency.
However, two local sources informed our publication that the airline would likely delay resuming service until Jan. 1 due to lingering security concerns. To reach Beirut, Iraqi airliners must traverse Syrian airspace, now controlled by a transitional government after the ousting of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Lebanese stranded in Iraq
The resumption of flights comes as some Lebanese citizens, who had fled to Iraq during the recent war between Hezbollah and Israel, remain stranded.
Transport Minister Ali Hamieh said the situation is stabilizing, with approximately 40 flights planned between Beirut and Najaf to repatriate around 5,600 passengers following the Nov. 27 cease-fire.
Other companies
Since the cease-fire, several airlines have resumed flights to Beirut international airport, including Air Arabia, Royal Jordanian, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, EgyptAir, and charter services SundAir, Condor and Nakhal. Jazeera Airways, another charter operator, has also resumed flights, according to Abboud.
However, major European airlines remain cautious, awaiting the end of the 60-day period of the cease-fire. Air France has extended its suspension of flights to Beirut until the end of January, while Lufthansa plans to resume operations in early March.
Emirates has also extended its suspension for two more weeks, with resumption scheduled for Jan. 15.
During the Israeli offensive, and specifically from late September to December 1, Middle East Airlines (MEA), Lebanon’s national carrier, was the only airline to maintain operations, continuing flights despite ongoing Israeli airstrikes.
