Sky Lounge Services wins bid to relaunch Qleyaat Airport

NORTH LEBANON — Public Works Minister Fayez Rasamny announced Tuesday that Sky Lounge Services has won the bid to rehabilitate and relaunch Rene Moawad Airport, a flagship project of the Nawaf Salam government.

The bid opening process began Tuesday at 10 a.m. and lasted several hours. Although the ministry initially said the result would be announced later in the week, it was ultimately released early in the evening.

Rasamny described the move as ''a milestone'' and a turning point toward bringing Lebanon’s second civil airport back into service after decades. He said the contract was awarded to Sky Lounge Services in line with public procurement rules, transparency standards, and fair competition requirements.

However, he did not disclose the value or details of the offer, nor how many companies took part in the bidding process.

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According to available information, Sky Lounge Services is based at Beirut Rafik Hariri International Airport and is headed by Nicolas Meszaros, a former professional pilot who previously led Executive Aircraft Services in Lebanon for over a decade. In a 2021 press release, the company said it had launched its ground handling services in Lebanon in May 2018.

A source at the Civil Aviation Directorate said the company holds both an Air Operator Certificate (AOC), allowing it to operate commercial flights, and a Ground Handling Certificate (GHC), authorizing it to provide airport ground services. The company operates in the general aviation section of the airport, servicing private jets and running private flights, the source added.

The contract award had been expected earlier this year but was delayed due to the war between Hezbollah and Israel. In early 2026, the public works minister had also considered assigning the project to convert Qleiaat Airport — currently a military facility — into a civilian airport to a subsidiary of Middle East Airlines.