Lebanon is planning to launch a new low-cost airline, expand the Beirut airport, and reopen another facility in northern Lebanon, it was announced on Tuesday.
The announcements were made during a ceremony at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport celebrating the 80th anniversary of the country’s flag carrier, Middle East Airlines (MEA).
Speaking at the ceremony, MEA chairman Mohammad Hout announced the launch of Fly Beirut, which he said would give passengers a cheaper but reliable option. Reports of a budget airline were made public in June.
Expected to see light in the first quarter of 2027, Fly Beirut will be owned by MEA, a company that still holds a monopoly on air travel in the country.
Lebanese expatriates have long complained of MEA’s costly ticket prices, often comparing them with other airlines that fly to destinations close to Beirut with significantly cheaper fares.
Hout also said six new aircraft would be added to MEA’s fleet next year and vowed to turn Beirut into a hub for aircraft maintenance.
"Plans have been drawn up for the company’s future, starting with restoring Beirut’s role as a maintenance hub for foreign airlines, which will require new facilities," the longtime chairman said at the ceremony, attended by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and other officials.
MEA was dubbed "most badass airline on the planet" by foreign press during last year’s Israeli offensive on Lebanon, as the airline continued operating from the Beirut airport amid ongoing strikes nearby in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Scenes of planes taking off and landing amid the chaos were widely circulated, drawing attention to the airline’s pilots who braved the bombs and continued flying.
Unlike in the 2006 summer war, the airport was spared Israeli attacks during last year's war with Hezbollah.
'A modern airport'
Public Works and Transport Minister Fayez Rasamny announced a string of new projects during the ceremony, and highlighted some of the achievements carried out by his department since taking office in February.
"We established the Civil Aviation Regulatory Authority, reactivated the Aviation Safety Centre in cooperation with ICAO, and strengthened operational and security discipline through firm decisions," he said at the ceremony.
The formation of the Civil Aviation Regulatory Authority had been stalled for many years due to political bickering, but approved by the cabinet in summer.
The minister announced medium-term and long-term expansion projects at the airport, which will happen between 2025 and 2030, and 2030 and beyond.
"We are preparing to soon inaugurate Fast Track to facilitate passenger movement and speed up processing. This project, alongside ongoing rehabilitation and modernisation works, will enable the airport to accommodate an additional two million passengers annually," Rasamny said.
"We have begun upgrading the departure area to reflect modern Lebanon, renewing the VIP Lounge, and updating facilities and services, while artworks will be displayed throughout the airport to add a touch of culture and beauty," he added in the ceremony.
The airport has been plagued by long queues and overcrowding, especially during the summer tourist season, and capacity is overstretched.
A Terminal 2 project was scrapped in 2023 following a corruption scandal, but officials have said a second terminal is still a necessity.
The minister said 2025-2030 is supposed to increase passenger numbers annually to 16 million, and a long-term plan will see an increase to 20 million per year.
Works in previous years have seen more border control counters added and e-gates installed this year.
"We are not just renovating an airport; we are creating a new travel experience to and from Lebanon. Within one year, we will offer the world one of the most distinguished and elegant airports," Rasamny said.
Rene Mouawad Airport becoming a reality
Congestion at Beirut’s airport has prompted the Lebanese public and officials to call on the government to reactivate another civilian airport in the north.
Lawmakers have lobbied for the reopening of the Rene Mouawad Airport in the village of Qleiaat in the Akkar district, at one point used for civilian flights during Lebanon’s 1975-1990 civil war before it was permanently turned into a military base.
It was renamed to honour a Lebanese president who was in office for only 17 days before his assassination in November 1989.
"The ministry is working to reactivate Rene Mouawad – Qleiaat Airport as a strategic step to connect northern Lebanon with the world and stimulate development," Rasamny said.
He emphasised that "low-cost aviation has become an essential need in Lebanon, and we hope to see it soon taking off from Beirut and Qleiaat to destinations around the world".
The Expression of Interest (EOI) has been launched for the northern airport, and the ministry has received more than 26 proposals, with big local, regional, and international companies interested in the project.
The reopening of Rene Mouawad as an international civilian airport is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect temporary and permanent job opportunities in the impoverished Akkar region.
It would alleviate pressure at the capital’s airport and is located around 27 km away from the port city of Tripoli, and about 7 km from the Syrian border.
Rasamny had already previously announced that the airport project is expected to be awarded to a contractor early next year, paving the way for renovation works to begin, adding that it was one of his ministry's priorities.