In the wake of the deadliest bombardment of Lebanon since 2006, Gulf airlines have taken a precautionary step by temporarily suspending flights to Beirut. This decision comes amidst escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. Leading carriers like Emirates and Qatar Airways have announced the suspension of their Beirut services for at least two days, citing the safety of their passengers and crew as their paramount concern.
Emirates, in a statement, declared the suspension of flights on Tuesday and Wednesday. Qatar Airways, which operates two daily flights to the Lebanese capital, followed suit, cancelling services for two days. The statement by Qatar Airways cited the “ongoing situation in Lebanon” as the reason for the temporary suspension of flights to and from Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport, extending until September 25.
Etihad Airways, the United Arab Emirates national airline, also announced the cancellation of its return flight from Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. Flydubai, Emirates’ low-cost subsidiary, joined the list of airlines suspending flights, canceling its daily services on Tuesday and Wednesday due to “ongoing developments.”
The cross-border conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which began last October, reignited after Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups launched an unprecedented attack on Israel. This escalated violence has prompted other international carriers, including Germany’s Lufthansa, Air France, and Delta Air Lines of the United States, to suspend their flights to Beirut. Some carriers have also adjusted their services to Israel and Iran due to the heightened tensions.
Air France extended its flight suspension to Beirut until October 1, while Lufthansa, which had initially suspended Beirut flights until October 26, cancelled services to Tel Aviv and Tehran until October 14.
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s national carrier, Middle East Airlines, reported a surge in bookings due to the cancellations by other airlines. A source at the airline, speaking anonymously, said that all flights were overbooked, with no seats available for any destination before Sunday.
Last week, Qatar Airways implemented a ban on pagers and walkie-talkies on its Beirut flights in response to communication device explosions, attributed to Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 37 people and injured thousands over two days. The escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have cast a shadow over the safety of air travel to and from Beirut, leading to these temporary suspensions by numerous airlines.
