Beirut Airport Flights Disrupted Amid Rising Tensions with Israel
Flights to and from Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport were canceled or delayed due to rising tensions with Israel. Following a deadly rocket strike, Lufthansa, Air France, and other major airlines have suspended flights citing security concerns and insurance risks. Lebanon's Middle East Airlines also reported delays due to recent conflicts and insurance-related issues.
Flights to and from Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport experienced significant cancellations and delays on Monday due to escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.
Following a deadly rocket strike in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Lufthansa has already suspended its night-time operations to and from Beirut.
Air France has also canceled flights between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Beirut for July 29 and 30, 2024, citing security concerns.
Lufthansa Group airlines—Lufthansa, Swiss, and Eurowings—have extended their suspensions up to August 5.
Lebanon's Middle East Airlines (MEA) attributed these disruptions to insurance risks linked to recent conflicts.
The heightened conflict follows increased cross-border hostilities since the Gaza war, with MEA having to delay additional flights due to insurance-related issues.
Other airlines like Turkish Airlines, SunExpress, AJet, Aegean Airlines, and Ethiopian Air have also canceled several scheduled flights to Beirut.
Israel's security cabinet has authorized a response, adding to concerns about a potential full-scale war.