Lebanon, a compact nation of 10,452 km² along the eastern Mediterranean, has a modest aviation network shaped by its geography, history, and political circumstances. As of April 07, 2025, only one airport supports commercial international and domestic flights, while others serve military purposes or remain dormant.
Airports in Lebanon: Comprehensive Overview, Status, and Runway Details
Below is an in-depth look at Lebanon’s airports, including runway lengths and expanded details.
- Total number of airports in Lebanon:
- Lebanon hosts one fully operational commercial airport and a handful of military airbases and minor airfields.
- Domestic aviation is nearly nonexistent due to short distances (e.g., Beirut to Tripoli is ~80 km by road), with focus on international routes.
- Historical conflicts, including the Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990) and ongoing regional tensions, have influenced airport development and usage.
Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport:
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- Location: Southern suburbs of Beirut, 9 km from the city center in the Khaldeh area.
- Status: Lebanon’s sole operational commercial airport, handling both international and domestic flights.
- IATA: BEY, ICAO: OLBA.
- Role: Primary hub for Middle East Airlines (MEA), Lebanon’s flag carrier, connecting to over 50 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
- Operations:
- International flights dominate, serving cities like Paris, London, Dubai, and Cairo.
- Domestic flights are rare, historically linking Beirut to Tripoli or the Bekaa Valley, but discontinued due to proximity and road alternatives.
- Handles approximately 8–9 million passengers annually in pre-conflict peak years (e.g., 2019), though numbers fluctuate with regional stability.
- Facilities:
- Modern terminal rebuilt after Civil War damage, opened in 1998, with a capacity for 6 million passengers annually ( expandable to 20 million with upgrades).
- Features duty-free shops, lounges, and separate international/domestic zones, though domestic infrastructure is underutilized.
- Runway Lengths:
- Runway 16/34: 3,800 meters (12,467 feet) – concrete, the longest in Lebanon, accommodates wide-body jets like the Airbus A380.
- Runway 03/21: 3,250 meters (10,663 feet) – asphalt/concrete, supports medium-to-large aircraft.
- Runway 17/35: 1,665 meters (5,463 feet) – asphalt, used for smaller planes but closed since 2019 for rehabilitation due to wear and conflict-related damage.
- History:
- Opened in 1954 as Beirut International Airport; renamed in 2005 after assassinated Prime Minister Rafic Hariri.
- Survived multiple closures during the Civil War and 2006 Israel-Hezbollah conflict, when runways were bombed but later repaired.
- Significance: Lebanon’s economic and cultural lifeline, critical for tourism, trade, and diaspora connections.
Rene Mouawad Air Base (Kleyate Airport):
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- Location: Near Tripoli, North Lebanon, 6-7 km from the Lebanese-Syrian border, 109 km from Beirut, close to Qlaayat village.
- Status: Primarily a military airbase managed by the Lebanese Air Force.
- IATA: KYE, ICAO: OLKA.
- Historical Use:
- Middle East Airlines operated domestic flights to Beirut in the 1960s and 1970s, serving Tripoli’s population.
- Ceased civilian operations during the Civil War; intermittent proposals for revival emerged in 2010 and 2012 but stalled due to funding and political instability.
- Current Use:
- Base for military aircraft, including Cessna Caravan surveillance planes and helicopters.
- Occasionally hosts charter flights or humanitarian missions, but no scheduled commercial services.
- Runway Length: 3,000 meters (9,843 feet) – concrete, capable of supporting large military and civilian aircraft if reactivated.
- Facilities: Basic military infrastructure; lacks modern civilian terminals or passenger amenities.
- Context:
- Named after President Rene Mouawad, assassinated in 1989 after 17 days in office.
- Strategic location near Syria makes it valuable for military operations but less viable for civilian use amid regional unrest.
- Potential: Could serve northern Lebanon’s 400,000+ residents if converted, though Beirut’s proximity and dominance hinder investment.
Rayak Air Base:
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- Location: Bekaa Valley, near Rayak, between Zahlé and Anjar, 50 km east of Beirut.
- Status: Military airbase under the Lebanese Air Force.
- ICAO: OLRA (no IATA code).
- Historical Significance:
- Lebanon’s oldest airbase, constructed by German forces in World War I for Ottoman use.
- Became the Lebanese Air Force’s headquarters in 1949, training pilots with British RAF support in the 1950s.
- Current Use:
- Houses fighter jets (e.g., Hawker Hunters, retired) and serves as a storage site for decommissioned aircraft.
- No commercial international or domestic flights; strictly military.
- Runway Length: 1,198 meters (3,930 feet) – concrete, adequate for small military planes but too short for modern commercial jets.
- Facilities: Military hangars and barracks; no civilian infrastructure.
- Context:
- Played a key role in Lebanon’s early aviation history, including French Mandate-era operations.
- Its inland location in the fertile Bekaa Valley once supported agricultural transport ideas, now abandoned.
- Note: Limited runway length and rural setting make commercial revival unlikely.
Hamat Air Base (Wujah Al Hajar Air Base):
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- Location: Hamat, North Governorate, near the coast south of Batroun.
- Status: Military airbase operated by the Lebanese Air Force.
- Local ID: LB-0008 (no IATA/ICAO code assigned).
- History:
- Built in the mid-1970s under President Frangieh, initially proposed as a civilian airport named Pierre Gemayel International Airport.
- Converted to military use before completion due to the Civil War; never served commercial flights.
- Current Use:
- Base for helicopters (MD-530F Defenders) and light attack aircraft (Embraer Super Tucano).
- Runway Length: Approximately 1,000 meters (3,281 feet) – concrete, estimates vary due to limited public data and post-repair adjustments.
- Facilities: Minimal military setup; no passenger terminals or civilian support.
- Context:
- Strategic coastal position enhances military surveillance over northern Lebanon.
- Its small size and conflict history preclude civilian aviation prospects.
- Note: Remains a lesser-known facility, overshadowed by Beirut and Rene Mouawad.
Zahle Airport:
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- Location: Bekaa Valley, near Zahlé, Lebanon’s third-largest city.
- Status: Small, non-operational regional airport.
- Use:
- Designed for private, charter, or limited commercial flights; currently inactive.
- No scheduled international or domestic services since its inception.
- Runway Length: Estimated 800–1,000 meters (2,625–3,281 feet) – exact length unavailable due to lack of official records.
- Facilities: Rudimentary airstrip with no terminal or modern amenities; largely abandoned.
- History:
- Built to serve the Bekaa region’s agricultural and tourism needs (e.g., Zahlé’s wine industry).
- Never fully developed due to funding shortages and Beirut’s dominance.
- Context:
- Could support light aircraft for local transport or emergencies if upgraded.
- Proximity to Rayak Air Base (20 km) reduces its strategic necessity.
- Potential: Revival discussions surface occasionally, but no concrete plans exist as of 2025.
