U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, on July 21, 2026. (Credit: Saul Loeb/AFP)
Three months after President Donald Trump raised the possibility of restoring direct air links between Lebanon and the United States, he has officially lifted decades-old restrictions on flights between the two countries, marking a significant step toward their eventual resumption. The decision was welcomed by President Joseph Aoun, who called it ''a sign of confidence in the measures taken by the Lebanese state to guarantee the security of civil aviation.''
In a presidential memorandum signed on Sept. 30 and published in the Federal Register, Trump said the restrictions established by four presidential decisions adopted in 1985, 1992, 1998 and 2007 were ''no longer necessary to ensure the safety of aircraft conducting flights to or from Lebanon against unlawful seizure.''
Restrictions gradually relaxed
American flights to Lebanon were suspended in 1985 after TWA (Trans World Airlines) Flight 847, which was traveling from Athens to Rome, was hijacked by alleged Hezbollah militants and forced to land in Beirut. During the 17-day hostage crisis, a U.S. Navy diver was killed.
The restrictions date back to 1985, when President Ronald Reagan’s administration suspended air links with Lebanon for security reasons, particularly amid concerns over airplane hijackings. The measures prohibited U.S. carriers from serving Lebanon, even indirectly, and suspended the rights of Lebanese airlines Middle East Airlines (MEA) and Trans Mediterranean Airways (TMA) to transport passengers to the United States.
The restrictions were gradually relaxed. In 1992, under President George H.W. Bush, foreign carriers were allowed to transport cargo to Lebanon. In 1998, under President Bill Clinton, ticket sales to Lebanon and flights with stopovers were authorized. Then, in 2007, under President George W. Bush, certain exemptions were granted to U.S. carriers operating under contract with the U.S. government, allowing them to transport passengers, cargo and humanitarian supplies. Despite these relaxations, the restrictions continued to prevent the resumption of direct commercial air links between the two countries.
The latest decision repeals all four measures and directs the U.S. secretary of transportation to implement the change immediately, removing any conflicting regulations or decisions.
President Aoun welcomed the decision, calling it ''a mark of confidence in the measures taken by the Lebanese authorities'' to guarantee civil aviation security. He thanked Trump, who had responded ''favorably'' to his request to lift the restrictions during their meeting at the White House last July.
The Lebanese president also thanked U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for ''following up on the matter'' and reaffirmed ''Lebanon’s commitment to international civil aviation security standards.'' He expressed hope that the decision would pave the way for ''enhanced cooperation between Beirut and Washington.''
Lebanon’s ambassador to Washington, Nada Hamadeh Mouawad, also expressed her ''gratitude'' to Trump for the decision, saying it ''opens the door to the resumption of direct flights between Lebanon and the United States.''
The lifting of the restrictions, however, does not mean direct flights between the two countries will resume immediately. According to sources at MEA and Lebanese civil aviation authorities interviewed Thursday by L’Orient-Le Jour, several regulatory, security and operational hurdles remain.
Beirut and Washington will need to negotiate a new air transport agreement, as the current one dates to 1972 and is considered ''obsolete.'' Several U.S. authorizations are also required, along with a prior audit, particularly of air safety and airport security.
MEA, which is due to receive eight new aircraft between mid-November and the end of June 2027, including four long-haul Airbus A330neo planes, could resume direct flights ''by the end of 2027 or in 2028,'' according to a company source.
