Flight crew members pose next to their airplane at the Qleiaat Airport in Lebanon's northernmost province of Akkar, on June 6, 2026. (Credit: Ibrahim Chalhoub/AFP)
BEIRUT — After decades of delays, René Moawad Airport in Qleiaat launched its development and operation phase on June 6, and rehabilitation works began on June 8.
The latest step follows Public Works and Transport Minister Fayez Rasamny’s May 19 announcement that Sky Lounge Services had won the tender to relaunch the airport, one of the Salam government’s flagship projects.
L’Orient Today explains what you need to know about the project.
When could flights begin, and where could they go?
According to Rasamny, under the current work plan, "the first flight should take place in 90 days," the expected timeline for the rehabilitation phase to be completed. That would put the expected launch around mid-September, if works and permits progress as planned.
Mohammad Aziz, head of the General Authority for Civil Aviation, said that in its current capacity, the airport could accommodate between 2,000 and 3,000 passengers at once. Current projections estimate around 100,000 passengers in the first year, rising to around 600,000 by the fourth year.
While no airline has formally committed to operating from Qleiaat except IBEX, the Lebanese charter company, now working to upgrade to commercial flights, according to Aziz.
Authorities have already identified several destinations they hope to serve once the airport becomes operational. The ministry has mentioned Mersin, Istanbul, and Dubai among the routes that could be launched in the first phase, while Medina, Cairo, and Athens are also under consideration.
The government is also seeking to attract low-cost carriers. Airlines mentioned by the ministry include AJet, Pegasus, and Air Arabia. Possible partnerships are additionally being explored with European airlines, including Ryanair via Paphos, Cyprus, and Aegean Airlines via Athens, potentially offering Lebanese travelers lower-cost access to European destinations.
Talks with airlines remain preliminary, as authorities first need to determine the airport’s final operational capacity, including the runway, ramp, and terminal facilities.
Discussions are also underway with Syrian authorities because of the airport’s proximity to the border, Aziz said. One idea being explored is whether Qleiaat could serve passengers coming from Syria, although the proposal remains at an early stage with no formal arrangement announced.
What are the broader plans for Qleiaat?
Beyond passenger traffic, Rasamny has presented Qleiaat as a wider economic and logistics project for Akkar and northern Lebanon.
The ministry hopes the airport will generate direct and indirect jobs and stimulate activity in transport, tourism, hospitality, logistics, and trade. Plans also include the eventual creation of a cargo village and stronger links with the Port of Tripoli to integrate air and maritime transport networks.
Access to the airport is also part of the project. The ministry is working on rehabilitating around four kilometers of road linking the airport to the Abdeh-Arida international highway in the Akkar district, including the main entrance and surrounding access roads to the airport.
The minister also mentioned plans to develop public transport connections to keep access costs affordable.
Who is Sky Lounge, and what does the contract provide?
Sky Lounge Services was selected to rehabilitate and operate René Moawad Airport during a first transitional phase. The Lebanese aviation services firm, active at Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport since 2008, provides services including ground handling and private jet operations.
The company is chaired by Ziad al-Monla and owned by MG Holding, a multidisciplinary group operating in several countries.
Under its four-year contract, Sky Lounge will finance and carry out the initial works needed to make the airport operational, including rehabilitating the runway and ramp and building a temporary terminal next to the control tower. The current one is outdated and too small, according to Monla.
The broader project also includes upgrades to infrastructure, navigation systems, and technical equipment.
The initial capital expenditure for the first phase is estimated at between $10-15 million, Monla told L’Orient Today. Infrastructure financed and built by the company during this period will remain the property of the Lebanese state.
The state will receive 10% of the operator’s top-line revenues starting in the third year of the contract, with the first two years exempted to allow Sky Lounge to recover part of its initial investment. In addition, the government will collect 100% of aviation fees imposed under existing regulations.
Aziz says state revenues could eventually exceed $1 million annually.
Rasamny said the government will be "operating under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) law" for René Moawad Airport.
This contract is not intended to be the airport’s final long-term operating model. Rasamny said Sky Lounge was selected to manage the airport "in the immediate future," while later phases will seek to attract investors and specialized companies, including potentially Sky Lounge or other bidders in upcoming tenders.
This comes as the government works on a broader framework for the country’s airports.
On June 4, Lebanon signed an agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private-sector arm of the World Bank Group, to advise on PPP in the airport sector. The IFC will support the government in structuring a PPP for Beirut airport and conduct a feasibility study on developing Qleiaat as Lebanon’s second international airport.
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