Resumption of Direct US–Lebanon Flights Faces Setbacks Following Technical ICAO Report

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2 days ago

U.S. President Donald Trump’s push to authorize the resumption of direct commercial flights between the United States and Lebanon has suffered a major setback following findings from an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) report, Reuters reported.

Trump announced the move in July and signed an executive directive last month instructing the U.S. government to permit nonstop operations, reversing a 40-year ban imposed after the 1985 hijacking of TWA Flight 847. While the Lebanese embassy in Washington characterized the order as “a significant first step,” any operational resumption hinges on comprehensive security and safety audits by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

The political momentum followed bilateral meetings between Trump and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, against a backdrop where Washington supports Aoun while pressing for the disarmament of Iranian-backed Hezbollah. However, two senior airline executives indicated that technical findings are likely to delay the launch of operations.

Critical Deficiencies at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport

The ICAO technical assistance mission conducted in July, requested by the Lebanese Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA) and submitted via an internal report in September, identified urgent safety vulnerabilities:

Expired Conditional Aerodrome Certification: Lebanon’s primary air gateway lacks a valid, current operating certificate. According to the report’s executive summary, this is a serious, time-critical issue requiring immediate intervention to preserve the airport’s operational status.
Absence of an Aerodrome Emergency Plan (AEP): The airport facility lacks a formally established emergency response plan.
Rescue and Firefighting Services (RFFS) Limitations: Airport rescue and firefighting resources are only equipped to handle single-aisle narrowbody aircraft, falling short of the category required to accommodate twin-aisle widebody jets used on long-haul routes such as transatlantic sectors.
Oversight Deficits within the Civil Aviation Authority: The national regulator lacks qualified flight operations and safety inspectors to oversee air traffic control (ATC) licensing and lacks a fully established, operational, independent accident investigation board with clearly defined statutory authority.

These deficiencies were addressed during a two-day workshop convened last month between representatives from ICAO, the Lebanese government, and the FAA.

Institutional Response from Lebanese Authorities and Operational Pressures

Lebanese Minister of Public Works and Transport Fayez Rasamny stated that the country is actively addressing the findings, noting that the recertification process commenced on Saturday and that the LCAA expects to issue a conditional certificate in the near term. Rasamny explained that the majority of the issues had already been identified internally by the LCAA, with corrective action plans delayed by the fallout of ongoing armed conflict. Israeli forces remain in southern Lebanon and have continued airstrikes despite a U.S.-mediated framework agreed in June, which Hezbollah rejected.

The FAA declined to comment, while ICAO stated that it does not comment on individual member states, though it routinely provides specialized oversight assessments upon request. Concurrently, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) confirmed it is aware of the ICAO report, reiterating that EU carriers must conduct their own comprehensive safety risk assessments and operational readiness evaluations prior to initiating services.

Airline Hesitation Amid Regional Security Climate

Beyond the technical hurdles at Beirut’s airport, the broader geopolitical and security environment poses formidable barriers:

Official Travel Advisories: The U.S. Department of State maintains a “Do Not Travel” advisory for Lebanon. Concurrently, the FAA advises caution when operating in Lebanese airspace due to military activity in and around Syria, including the collateral hazard posed by stray long-range surface-to-air missiles originating from Syrian territory.
Air Navigation Threats: International carriers have steered clear of vast swaths of Middle Eastern airspace due to drone and missile threats since U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran in February escalated regional hostilities, which recently impacted an airport in Saudi Arabia.
Position of U.S. Carriers: Speaking on condition of anonymity, three U.S. airline officials stated they do not anticipate any American carrier resuming scheduled flights to Lebanon in the near future due to persistent security concerns.

Domestically, both Lebanese civil aviation authorities and the national flag carrier have drawn praise for maintaining air navigation services and essential connectivity, a lifeline for an economy reliant on tourism and foreign remittances. While direct air links between Beirut and the United States remain suspended, the Lebanese capital continues to maintain scheduled nonstop operations to select major European hubs.

Outlook

Restoring direct air links between the United States and Lebanon remains contingent on Lebanese aviation authorities rectifying all ICAO audit findings, securing renewed aerodrome certification for Rafic Hariri International Airport, and upgrading emergency protocols and RFFS category capabilities to safely accommodate widebody aircraft.