Lebanon welcomes direct flight authorisation USA-Lebanon after 40 years

O Lebanese President Joseph Aoun today welcomed an order from Donald Trump, authorizing direct flights between the US and Lebanon, suspended 40 years ago.

“ It is a demonstration of confidence in the measures taken by the Lebanese State to ensure civil aviation security, protect air traffic from and to Beirut and enhance the safety of flights linking Lebanon to the rest of the world,” said Aoun, in a statement quoted by EFE.

Trump’s decision was made in July during a meeting with Aoun at the White House, in which the US President recalled that the Lebanese head of state “did extraordinary work in the transformation of his country,” and ordered his administration to authorize all US airlines to fly directly to Lebanon.

Trump signed a presidential memorandum on 30 September to lift restrictions on direct flights with Lebanon and initiate the administrative procedures necessary for the implementation of the decision.

Aoun “thanked President Trump for his decision and the executive measures that will be adopted,” said the statement of the Lebanese Presidency.

The Head of State also stated that Lebanon “attributes the utmost importance to civil aviation security, security at Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut and air traffic, and continues to take the necessary measures (...) to safeguard passenger safety and strengthen confidence in Lebanon and its institutions”.

Although Trump’s order came into force in July, Lebanese airline Middle East Airlines (MEA) and the country’s civil aviation authorities clarified that direct flights themselves will not be resumed immediately.

It is necessary to update bilateral air transport agreements, comply with international safety standards and complete the latest operational audits and it is estimated that the effective resumption of the trade link will take several months.

The suspension of direct flights between the United States and the Mediterranean country was decided for the first time in 1985, following the diversion of TWA flight 847 (Trans World Airlines) by Lebanese militants linked to Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite movement.