Lebanon has issued a NOTAM requiring all foreign air carriers to reapply for permission to serve Beirut (BEY) in the future. This announcement follows the suspension of all foreign airline flights to the country amid Israeli airstrikes that have killed at least 560 people since September 23, 2024.
The NOTAM, issued on September 28, 2024, and valid until October 28, 2024, states:
“Based on the decision of the Lebanese Minister of Public Works and Transport, and with respect to the current situation in Lebanon, where Middle East Airlines, the national Lebanese air carrier, is now the only carrier operating to and from Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport.
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“And since all foreign airlines have suspended their flights to Beirut, we hereby inform all foreign airlines that in order to resume their flights, they must apply officially to DGCA.”
It is worth noting that the NOTAM also mandates prior approval for military flights and specific humanitarian aid missions.
EU warns airlines to avoid airspace
In response to the intensifying military conflict in the Middle East, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has warned airlines to avoid the airspaces of Israel and Lebanon. In a statement issued on September 28, 2024, EASA said:
“An overall intensification of air strikes and degradation in the security situation has been noted, impacting the safety of airspace over Israel and Lebanon.”
In light of this situation, the European Commission and EASA
have decided to issue Conflict Zone Information Bulletins (CZIBs) advising against operating in the airspaces of Lebanon and Israel at all flight levels. This recommendation is in effect until October 31, 2024, but it may be reviewed earlier and adjusted or rescinded based on further assessments.
This is not the first time that EASA has warned airlines to exercise caution due to the rising tensions in the Middle East. In April 2024, the European aviation regulator advised airlines to be cautious around the airspace in the region, especially Israel and Iran.
Suspension of flights
Since late July 2024, worries about a spreading war in the Middle East have prompted several international airlines to cancel their flights to Israel. Now, with the war extending from the Gaza Strip into Lebanon, foreign airlines are suspending flights to Beirut. Middle East Airlines is the sole airline currently operating flights to and from the country’s largest airport.
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The conflict between Israel and Lebanon escalated sharply in September, starting with Israel destroying Lebanese pagers and walkie-talkies. On September 23, 2024, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 560 people over two days and forced many residents to evacuate Southern Lebanon.
Carriers including Egyptair, Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, Lufthansa, Air France, and Qatar Airways were among the first to halt operations in response to the increasing security risks.