LEBANON: Government devises Beirut Airport Corrective Plan After ICAO Report

BEIRUT, Lebanon

• The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has found Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY/OLBA) lacks valid certification among other shortcomings, all of which must be addressed if Lebanon is to secure its IASA certification, critical to the start of flights to/from the United States.
• US President Donald Trump announced in July and signed an order last month to allow direct US flights to Lebanon, ending a suspension that began after the 1985 hijacking of TWA Flight 847.
• The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) must still complete safety reviews before any resumption.
• However, an ICAO technical assistance mission in July identified shortcomings at the airport and in the wider aviation system.
• The ICAO report summary called the issues a serious and time-critical matter that must be addressed immediately.
• Among the findings are that the Lebanese Directorate General of Civil Aviation (LDGCA) lacks qualified inspectors for air traffic control licensing and has no fully established independent aircraft accident investigation authority.
• Beirut airport firefighting resources also cover only single-aisle aircraft and the airport lacks an emergency plan, with its conditional certification expired.
• Officials from ICAO, the Lebanese government and the FAA discussed the concerns at a two-day workshop last month.
• Two senior industry officials expect the findings to delay service resumption and complicate follow-up on the order Trump signed after meeting Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
• Public Works and Transport Minister Fayez Rasamny said certification efforts begin on Saturday and the LDGCA expects to issue conditional certification soon.
• Rasamny stated most issues had already been identified and corrective action started, though war delayed progress.
• Three US airline officials said no American carriers plan near-term Beirut flights due to security concerns.

Source:

• Reuters