Lebanon's long-awaited second airport to open on December 14

Lebanon's long-awaited second airport is set to commence commercial flights on December 14, according to Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. Booking for flights from the new Rene Mouawad Airport in Qleiaat, northern Lebanon, will commence this Sunday, with the initial flight schedule and service routes announced on the same day. The prime minister stated that the airport would open new possibilities for economic and tourism growth in the economically struggling nation.

Situated near the Syrian border, the airport has largely served a military purpose for many years, even though there have been numerous attempts to repurpose it for civilian use. Following a "master plan" introduced last year, the army has assisted in the redevelopment efforts. The airport will be named in honor of Rene Mouawad, a former president of Lebanon who was assassinated immediately after his 1989 election.

Test flights are scheduled to begin on November 22, which coincidentally marks Lebanon's independence day and the date of Mouawad's assassination. December 14 will mark the start of regular commercial flights. The terminal is anticipated to alleviate pressure on Beirut's sole commercial airport, the Rafic Hariri International Airport.

Being close to Beirut's southern suburbs, which have been frequently targeted by Israeli bombings due to their support for Hezbollah during the recent regional conflict, the airport has deepened Lebanon's economic challenges. Prime Minister Salam revealed the airport's redevelopment in June, highlighting that the Akkar governorate, where the airport is located, has the highest poverty rate in the country.

Lebanon anticipates handling approximately 114,000 passengers in its first year at the airport. Additionally, the nation hopes to attract more visitors from Gulf countries as it works to mend relationships with the region. Fly Beirut, a low-cost airline, will initiate operations in the upcoming summer, featuring a fleet of five Airbus A320 aircraft.

The airline's chairman, representing the parent company Middle East Airlines, informed The National in June that the airline would serve destinations including Dubai, Istanbul, Paris, Copenhagen, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Düsseldorf. Middle East Airlines, a dominant player in Lebanon's air travel market, currently oversees most of the country's inbound and outbound flights.

Long-standing complaints from Lebanon's sizable diaspora and regular travelers about exorbitant prices have persisted.