How long is the runway at Qlayaat airport, Lebanon?

Nestled in the coastal plains of northern Lebanon, Qlayaat Airport officially known as René Mouawad Air Base stands as a lesser-known yet strategically significant aviation facility.

Located near the village of Qlayaat in the Akkar Governorate, this airfield boasts a single runway that stretches an impressive 3,000 meters (9,843 feet). Surrounded by a mix of farmland and rugged terrain, its history as a military base and its potential as a civilian hub offer a unique lens into Lebanon’s aviation landscape.

This article provides a detailed, fact-based exploration of Qlayaat Airport, its runway, its immediate surroundings, and a concise rundown of other runways in the vicinity and neighboring countries.

Qlayaat Airport: A Factual Deep Dive into Lebanon’s Northern Airfield

Qlayaat Airport’s defining feature is its lone runway, measuring exactly 3,000 meters in length. Constructed with asphalt, it was originally built to support military operations, capable of handling fighter jets and transport planes.

Positioned at an elevation of approximately 10-20 meters above sea level, the runway’s flat, unobstructed layout benefits from its coastal proximity. Its surface, while showing minor wear small cracks and patches of grass due to limited use remains structurally intact, requiring only modest repairs for operational readiness, as assessed by Lebanese infrastructure experts in recent years.

The runway’s orientation is not publicly detailed with a specific numeric designation (e.g., 09/27), but its length surpasses many regional counterparts, including Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport’s secondary runway (2,250 meters). Wind patterns in the area, influenced by the nearby Mediterranean Sea, can pose challenges.

Despite this, the runway’s capacity to accommodate mid-sized commercial jets or military aircraft underscores its untapped potential.

The Surroundings

Qlayaat Airport sits in a relatively open expanse, roughly 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the Mediterranean coastline. The immediate area features agricultural fields olive groves, wheat, and tobacco interspersed with small villages like Qlayaat itself, which has a population of fewer than 1,000 residents.

To the east, the terrain rises into the foothills of Mount Lebanon, while the Syrian border lies 20 kilometers (12 miles) away, adding a geopolitical edge to its location. The nearest urban center, Tripoli, is 30 kilometers (18 miles) south, accessible via the Tripoli-Minieh highway, a route often plagued by poor maintenance.

The climate is Mediterranean, with annual rainfall averaging 800 millimeters (31.5 inches), mostly between November and March, and temperatures ranging from 10°C (50°F) in winter to 30°C (86°F) in summer. Coastal breezes moderate the heat, but they also contribute to the wind challenges for aviation.

The airport’s isolation from dense urban development offers operational flexibility but highlights its current lack of supporting infrastructure, such as a modern terminal or extensive taxiways.

Historical Context

Originally established in the 1960s by the Lebanese Armed Forces, Qlayaat Airport was named after René Mouawad, Lebanon’s president assassinated in 1989. It served as a key military airbase during the Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990), leveraging its long runway for combat and logistics missions. Post-war, it briefly operated civilian flights in the late 1980s and early 2000s, but commercial use never took root. Today, it remains under military control, used sporadically for training and emergency landings, with its civilian potential repeatedly debated amid Lebanon’s economic and political crises.

Other Runways in the Vicinity

The Akkar region and nearby areas host few operational runways, with Qlayaat standing out for its length and military focus. Here’s a factual list of other runways within a reasonable radius in Lebanon:

• Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport (Beirut, 120 km south)
  • Runway 16/34: 3,395 meters (asphalt/concrete, primary runway).
  • Runway 03/21: 3,250 meters (asphalt).
  • Runway 17/35: 2,250 meters (asphalt, secondary use).
  • Lebanon’s main international gateway, handling over 8 million passengers annually.
• Rayak Air Base (Bekaa Valley, 140 km southeast)
  • Runway: Approximately 2,000 meters (asphalt).
  • A military facility with limited public data, used primarily by the Lebanese Air Force.
• Wujah Al Hajar Air Base (Hammana, 130 km south)
  • Runway: Estimated at 1,500 meters (asphalt).
  • Another military airstrip, rarely active and smaller in scale.

No other operational civilian or military runways exist within immediate proximity to Qlayaat, underscoring its regional isolation.

 

 

Runways in Neighboring Countries

Qlayaat’s location near Syria and its coastal position place it within a broader aviation network. Below are key runways in adjacent countries, focusing on major airports or bases near borders:

• Syria
  • Damascus International Airport (Damascus, 150 km southeast):
    • Runway 05R/23L: 3,600 meters (asphalt).
    • Runway 05L/23R: 3,000 meters (asphalt).
    • Syria’s primary airport, heavily impacted by conflict since 2011.
  • International Airport (Latakia, 100 km northeast):
    • Runway 17/35: 2,797 meters (asphalt).
    • Serves Syria’s coast, near the Russian-operated Hmeimim Air Base (2,800 meters).
• Turkey
  • Hatay Airport (Antakya, 150 km north):
    • Runway 04/22: 3,000 meters (asphalt).
    • A civilian airport near the Syrian border, operational since 2007.
• Israel
  • Ben Gurion International Airport (Tel Aviv, 250 km southwest):
    • Runway 12/30: 3,112 meters (asphalt).
    • Runway 03/21: 2,772 meters (asphalt).
    • Israel’s main hub, distant but relevant in the regional context.
• Cyprus
  • Larnaca International Airport (Larnaca, 200 km west across the sea):
    • Runway 04/22: 2,994 meters (asphalt).
    • The closest major airport on Cyprus, a key regional player.

Current Status and Future Prospects

As of March 5, 2025, Qlayaat Airport remains a military asset with no regular civilian traffic. Its runway’s length and coastal location make it a candidate for emergency use or regional development, but Lebanon’s financial woes coupled with estimated repair costs of $50 million for basic functionality keep it dormant.

Proposals to add a second runway or modernize facilities have surfaced, but none have materialized. For now, Qlayaat’s 3,000-meter strip lies quiet, a stark contrast to the busier skies of Beirut and Damascus, waiting for a moment when necessity or investment might awaken its potential.