Direct flights from the US to Beirut haven't operated in 40 years, and last month it looked like that was finally about to change. Now a United Nations aviation report has found that Beirut's main airport lacks valid certification, a setback that's likely to push nonstop service even further away.
The findings come from the International Civil Aviation Organization, the UN agency that sets global aviation standards, according to a report summary Reuters reported on Friday. Industry officials told Reuters they expect the problems to delay any return of direct flights between the two countries.
Lebanon · United States
Nonstop to Beirut: Not Yet
Contrail
What the Report Found
ICAO visited Lebanon in July at the request of the country's own aviation regulator, and sent its findings to Lebanese officials in September. According to the summary, the airport's firefighting resources are built for single-aisle planes, not the larger twin-aisle jets used on long flights like one from New York. The airport also has no emergency plan, and its conditional certificate has expired.
The problems go beyond the airport itself. Lebanon's aviation regulator doesn't have enough qualified inspectors to oversee air traffic control licensing, the summary says, and the country lacks a fully independent agency to investigate air accidents. ICAO called the issues "serious and time-critical" and said they must be addressed immediately to preserve the airport's operational status.
Lebanon's transport minister, Fayez Rasamny, told Reuters that most of the issues had already been identified and that work to fix them had started, though war had slowed it down. He said certification efforts would begin Saturday, and Lebanon's aviation regulator expects to issue a conditional certification in the coming days.
Why There Are No Direct Flights Today
The US barred direct flights to Lebanon in 1985, after Hezbollah-linked hijackers took over TWA Flight 847 and forced it to land in Beirut. The restrictions stayed in place for four decades, so travelers between the two countries have had to connect through Europe or elsewhere.
That started to change in July, when President Trump said he would allow US airlines to fly directly to Lebanon after meeting Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House. On September 30, he signed a memorandum revoking the decades-old restrictions.
Lifting the ban was only the first step, though. The Federal Aviation Administration still has to assess how well Lebanon oversees aviation safety, and the Transportation Security Administration has to review security at Beirut's airport. Lebanon and the US also need a new air transport agreement, since the current one dates back to 1972.
When Nonstop Flights Could Start
Don't expect an American airline to be first. Three US airline officials told Reuters they don't expect any American carrier to restart Lebanon flights in the near term, citing security concerns. The State Department also still advises Americans not to travel to Lebanon.
The likelier candidate is Middle East Airlines, Lebanon's national carrier. It's due to receive four Airbus A330neos, a long-range wide-body jet, between mid-November and the end of June 2027. An MEA source told L'Orient Today that a Beirut–New York route is expected toward the end of 2027 or in 2028, depending on US approvals.
What It Means for Travelers
For now, nothing changes. If you're flying between the US and Lebanon, you'll still need to connect, often through a European hub. Beirut's airport remains open, and Lebanon says the fixes are already underway.
The bigger takeaway is that lifting a ban doesn't put a plane in the sky. Before anyone can book a nonstop flight, Beirut's airport has to meet the international standards ICAO flagged, and then pass two separate US reviews.
