+961

A Lebanese Blog

Tag: airport

  • MEA to Launch Lebanon’s First Low Cost Airline – Affordable Travel on the Horizon?

    Big news is on the horizon for Lebanon’s aviation scene! Middle East Airlines (MEA), Lebanon’s national carrier, has announced its intention to launch a new low-cost airline, bringing hope for more affordable travel options to Europe and the region.

    A Fresh Option for Lebanese Travelers

    For years, Lebanese travelers have been calling for cheaper flight options, and now, MEA is responding. The airline plans to establish a fully-owned low-cost subsidiary, set to launch within the next two years with an initial fleet of four aircraft.

    Early destinations are expected to include European hubs like Germany and Denmark, as well as popular regional cities such as Egypt. This could make spontaneous weekend getaways, family visits, and budget-friendly trips much more accessible.

    A Brighter Future for Lebanon’s Travel Sector

    This move comes at a time of broader discussions about upgrading Lebanon’s aviation infrastructure. Plans are in place for a second terminal at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport, though construction has not yet started. Additionally, there’s been increasing talk of reactivating Klayaat Airport (Rene Mouawad Airport) in the north, which could soon offer an alternative airport option for travelers.

    • A low-cost airline,
    • A second terminal in Beirut in the future,
    • And the possible reopening of Klayaat Airport
      This combination could be a game changer for Lebanon’s tourism and economy.

    Not only would these developments help cut down travel costs, but they could also encourage more tourists to visit, more expats to return more often, and more opportunities for regional travel.

    What to Expect

    While the details are still unfolding, travelers could benefit from:

    • Lower ticket prices to key destinations
    • More flight options beyond just Beirut
    • Improved travel infrastructure for smoother journeys
    • A positive boost for the tourism industry

    MEA is already forecasting strong growth in passenger numbers, and these developments could make Lebanon a regional travel hub once again.

    Between the upcoming low-cost airline, the planned second terminal, and Klayaat Airport potentially reopening, Lebanon’s skies are looking more open than ever. This is an opportunity to make travel affordable, promote tourism, and reconnect Lebanon with the world in a much easier way.

  • Uber and Careem No Longer Allowed to Pick Up Passengers from Beirut Airport

    Several news websites reported last week that a new decision (number 1/247) was issued by the Minister of Transport that aims to organize the operation of Taxi cabs at the airport, an urged taxi drivers to abide with it as of the first of April. No details were provided about that decision and the ministry website didn’t have any information, so it all sounded vague.

    A few days later I started hearing about people arriving to Beirut Airport not being able to meet their designated drivers at the exit and I just made sure yesterday it was because of that decision.

    A friend of mine arrived last night and tried to use Careem, but a few minutes later the driver called and told him he can no longer go beyond the army check point (around 700m away from the airport entrance), and that he should meet him there to pick him up. With too much distance to walk, my friend decided to simply cancel the ride and book one of the official airport taxi cars, except that they told him it will cost “around $50” to drive him to Dekwane which is ridiculously exorbitant, so he just said thanks and called one of his relatives to come take him instead.

    So whatever that decision states, it essentially no longer allows taxi river to pick up their arriving passengers from the parking lot as before in order to force people to use the official airport taxi drivers who are infamous for charging very high amount for a few kilometers rides. Therefore, in case you are arriving to Beirut anytime soon, make sure to arrange for a friend or relative to pick you up if you don’t want to bear unnecessary charges.

    Keep in mind that our so called tourism season should start in a few weeks from now, and this decision is basically the best way to kick it off!

    Update (April 5th 2019):

    Private taxi companies can pick up passengers from the airport only if they apply for a special permit from the syndicate of Lebanese taxi drivers for every ride they want to make.

    The permit should include the passengers name along with their flight details in order not to be used more than once.

    Update 2 (April 5th 2019):

    Minister of Transportation Youssef Fenianos just reversed his decision, so taxi drivers can pick up incoming passengers from the parking lot just like before.

  • Lebanese Nizam Shalak Stranded in Ecuador Airport for Over 40 Days Now

    Lebanese Nizam Hussein Shalak has been living inside Jose Joaquin de Olmedo airport in Ecuador for over 40 days now an we unfortunately wouldn’t have heard about his case if it wasn’t for the foreign media outlets.

    The man visited Ecuador two months ago, but on his way back to Lebanon he stopped in Barcelona where he was detained after losing his papers and credit cards and was sent back to the Ecuador. He is now living off food coupons that airlines offer to him and gets to shower every few days when he is allowed to do so.

    What’s puzzling though is that the Lebanese consulate in Ecuador didn’t know about Shalak until the media there reported about him, so I think the ministry of foreign affairs here in Lebanon doesn’t have an idea about the matter as well, and chances are he will have to wait several more weeks until they figure out how to issue new papers for him.

    His situation is not unique by the way and many other people ended up somehow living inside airports around the world after they lost or got rid of their personal papers (check here), with the most notable case being that of an Iranian man who lived in Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris for around 18 years!

  • Emirates Airlines to Operate A380 Test Flight to Beirut

    Emirates Airlines announced last month it will be operating an A380 test flight to Beirut Airport on March 29th in order to test the operations and necessary infrastructure to later accommodate a regular A380 service to Lebanon.

    This is a (somehow) big deal now for our airport because when the A380 was unable to land in Beirut when it was first introduced 10 years ago since it needs special infrastructure unlike and other plane. So I assume the ministry of transport and the Lebanese civil aviation authority did the necessary upgrades in order to finally make it possible.

    The double deck A380 is by the way the world’s largest passenger plane, and I’ve heard a lot about the luxurious experience that Emirates offers on its first and business class from friends who tried the service (check what is it like here on Youtube). I’m not sure though how cost effective will this luxury be aboard the 4 hours Beirut-Dubai, but I imagine people who take long-haul flights will definitely appreciate it. I personally wouldn’t mind a refreshing shower on a 14 hours trip!

  • You Now Need A Special Permit To Fly Your Drone in Lebanon

    The Lebanese Army announced two days ago that from now on drone owners in Lebanon need to apply for a licence from the Air Force, and they have three months to comply with this requirements. Moreover, a special permit will be needed from the Army Guidance Office each time they want to fly these drones especially around military bases.

    I’m not sure how serious is the army going to be about applying this new regulation since they issues a similar memo two years ago but few people seem to have complied with it.

    Other countries such as UAE and Kuwait have implemented similar regulation and I believe it’s about time to regulate drone usage in Lebanon, not necessarily everywhere but at least around sensitive locations such as Beirut Airport since it is very close to residential areas and any drone there can disrupt the air traffic just like what happened in Dubai last October.

  • Beirut airport has food products that expired 20 years ago!

    abou faour

    Can you imagine how does a food item that has expired in 1995 look like now?! I’m seriously interested to know!

    “The minute you walk into the warehouses, you feel like you entered a dump,” Abu Faour said after inspecting the airport along with Transport Minister Ghazi Zeaiter.

    The health minister revealed that some of food products still in storage had expired nearly 20 years ago.

    “Dates on some foods showed they had expired in 1995,” he said.

    You can read the full story here.

  • Beirut through the lens of a Pan Am stewardess in the 60s

    This video with highlights from Hong Kong, Beirut, Bangkok and Tehran was compiled by a stewardess called Mary Lou Bigelow throughout her service with Pan American Airways between 1962 and 1964.

    You can start watching the part from Beirut at the 7m23s mark with scenes from Beirut Airport, Raouche, Manara, Phoenicia Hotel and water skiing in Saint Georges Hotel.

    Everytime I watch an old video of Beirut, I wish I was born earlier to live the golden era of this city!

  • Cow in a car on the airport road!

    WOW!

    via Mireille Bou Fadel

  • Ukranian woman strips naked in Beirut airport

    Ukranian woman in Beirut airport

    As per Al-Jadeed, A Ukranian woman was arrested at Beirut airport today after she stripped naked in protest against the smoking ban!

    If only our people protested this way instead of burning tires and blocking roads!

    Update:

    I just read in The Daily Star that some source in the airport claimed this lady was actually protesting  the General Security’s decision to expel her from the country because her residency papers had expired. You can check the article here.

  • Haze over Beirut

    I was driving from Tripoli to Beirut yesterday when I was surprised with a haze covering the area from Zouk all the way to Khaldeh. It was actually the first time for me to see a haze that thick on the coastline, even flights were halted for a couple of hours at Beirut airport.

    Here’s a couple of photos that I found on Facebook taken by Mr. Mohamad Mashnouk around sunset. You’d think the first one was taken in Dubai.