UN aviation audit finds Beirut airport uncertified, complicating US direct flights push

The United Nations' aviation agency has concluded that Lebanon's main airport does not hold valid certification, according to a report summary seen by Reuters — a finding that two senior industry officials familiar with the matter expect to delay the resumption of direct flights between the United States and Beirut. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) sent its internal report to Lebanon in September, after carrying out a technical assistance mission in July at the request of the Lebanese Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA).

The audit is a setback for President Donald Trump's push to revive service. Trump announced the plan in July and last month signed an order directing the US government to permit direct flights to Lebanon, reversing a suspension in place since TWA Flight 847 was hijacked and diverted to Beirut in 1985. Safety reviews by the Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Security Administration would still be required before any flights could begin. The Lebanese embassy in Washington described the order as "a significant first step toward restoring direct air service".

According to a summary of the ICAO report, the airport's firefighting resources are set up for single-aisle aircraft but not the twin-aisle jetliners used on long-haul routes. The facility also has no emergency plan and its conditional certification has lapsed. "This is a serious and time-critical matter that must be addressed immediately to preserve the airport's operational status," the summary said. The report further found that the LCAA lacks qualified inspectors to oversee air traffic control licensing and has no fully established, operational and independent aircraft accident investigation authority with clearly defined responsibilities.

The concerns were raised during a two-day workshop last month at which officials from ICAO, Lebanon's government, the FAA and others discussed how to revive direct air service, according to the industry officials and a meeting agenda seen by Reuters. Lebanon's Minister of Public Works and Transport Fayez Rasamny said the country is taking steps to address the issues, with certification efforts beginning on Saturday, and the LCAA expects to issue conditional certification within days. He said most issues in the report had already been identified by the LCAA and that corrective action had begun, with progress held back by war. The FAA and ICAO declined to comment.

Regional unrest continues to weigh on any restart. Israeli forces remain in southern Lebanon and have kept up strikes despite a US-brokered framework agreement signed in June between Israel and Lebanon, which Hezbollah — not a party to the deal — has rejected. The US State Department advises Americans against travel to Lebanon on safety grounds, and says the FAA urges caution in Lebanese airspace because of military activity in and around Syria, including the risk of errant long-range surface-to-air missiles from Syrian territory. Three US airline officials told Reuters, speaking anonymously, that they do not expect any American carrier to resume Lebanon flights in the near term.

Foreign airlines have largely avoided Middle East airspace since US and Israeli strikes on Iran in February triggered regional hostilities, with an airport in Saudi Arabia the latest site to be attacked. Lebanon and its national carrier have drawn domestic praise for keeping air navigation services and flights running, helping support an economy reliant on tourism and remittances. No direct flights currently link Beirut and the United States, though Lebanon is connected to several large European cities. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency said it was aware of the ICAO report and noted that EU carriers must make their own assessments of an airport's safety and operational readiness before starting services.