Beirut Airport Certification Issues Stall Trump’s Plan for Direct US-Lebanon Flights
A UN aviation agency report reveals Beirut's main airport lacks valid certification, complicating President Trump's push to restore direct US flights.
POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — President Donald Trump’s initiative to re-establish direct air travel between the United States and Lebanon has encountered a significant hurdle. A summary of a report from the United Nations aviation agency indicates that Lebanon’s primary airport currently lacks the necessary valid certification.
This development complicates the administration’s efforts to reverse a 41-year suspension of direct flights. The ban was originally implemented following the 1985 hijacking of TWA Flight 847, which was forced to land in Beirut.
President Trump formally announced the policy shift in July and signed an executive order last month to permit the resumption of service. The move was intended to overturn restrictions established by four presidential determinations issued in 1985, 1992, 1998, and 2007, which the President deemed no longer necessary for aircraft security.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun expressed support for the decision during a White House meeting in July. Despite the legal authorization for carriers to resume routes, no US airline has yet announced plans for a Beirut service.
Commercial operations remain contingent on several factors, including a mandatory safety review by the Federal Aviation Administration. Additionally, the State Department currently maintains a Level 4 travel advisory for the region.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
