PM Vows Action: Tenders, Plans, and Jobs Take Flight in Akkar
Qlayaat, Lebanon, March 25, 2025
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam touched down by helicopter at René Moawad Airport in Qlayaat today, igniting hope in Lebanon’s north with a bold pledge: the long-dormant airport will roar back to life within a year. In a whirlwind visit to the Akkar region, Salam didn’t just talk, he promised action, unveiling plans to transform the facility into a bustling hub and a lifeline for a neglected corner of the country.
One Year to Liftoff: Salam Sets the Clock
Speaking to a crowd of local officials, MPs, and eager residents, Salam didn’t mince words. The Qlayaat Airport will be operational within a year, he announced, slamming a firm timeline on a project that’s been stuck in neutral for decades. This isn’t a photo op, it’s a promise. Tenders are coming soon, and we’re moving fast, he said. The crowd buzzed with cautious excitement as he detailed the next steps.
Salam dropped a bombshell: engineering giant Dar Al-Handasah has agreed to deliver a free study to kickstart the airport’s revival. Within three months, we’ll have a master plan in hand, he vowed. It’s a lightning-fast timeline for a government often accused of dragging its feet, and Salam’s betting it’ll prove his administration means business.
More Than Wings: Jobs and Investment Incoming
The prime minister didn’t stop at runways. He pitched the airport as an economic game-changer for Akkar, tying it to his push for public-private partnerships. Fresh off chairing the Higher Council for Privatization yesterday, Salam said this is about investment: aviation, yes, but also jobs and growth for the north. We’re not here to dream; we’re here to deliver.
Local leaders greeted Salam with guarded hope. This shows Akkar isn’t forgotten, one MP declared as the prime minister toured the site. Named after slain President René Moawad, the airport’s 3,000-meter runway, built in 1934 and briefly active during the civil war, could soon ease the strain on Beirut’s overcrowded Rafic Hariri International Airport. For residents, it’s a rare glimmer of attention from a Beirut-focused government.
Salam’s visit fits into his broader mission to steady Lebanon’s sinking ship after years of crisis. By reviving Qlayaat, he’s not just offering a second airport, he’s signaling unity and progress for a fractured nation. We don’t see Akkar as remote, even if it’s far from Beirut, he insisted, promising a return trip to unveil the master plan and more projects.
Deadline Set: Will Salam Deliver?
With tenders on the way and a one-year countdown ticking, Salam’s left little room for excuses. Akkar’s watching, and Lebanon’s waiting.
Can he turn promises into planes, or will Qlayaat remain a runway to nowhere? For now, the north holds its breath and its hopes.