
International airlines have recently suspended an increasing number of flights to Lebanon amid escalating tensions between the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah and Israel.
The flight cancellations intensified following a day of Israeli bombardment that Lebanese authorities reported resulted in 558 deaths on Monday—the highest toll since the conflict between the two sides in 2006.
Emirates, based in the United Arab Emirates, announced it would temporarily suspend flights to Beirut on Tuesday and Wednesday. Its sister airline, flydubai, also canceled its flights to the city during the same period. “The safety of our crew and customers is our top priority and will not be compromised,” Emirates stated.
Qatar Airways, which operates two daily flights to Beirut, has also suspended services for two days. “Due to the ongoing situation in Lebanon, Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended flights to and from Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport until September 25,” the airline said.
Air France has extended its suspension of flights to Beirut until October 1, citing the “security situation.” However, flights to and from Tel Aviv, which Air France had suspended last week, resumed over the weekend and are operating normally, according to a spokesman.
Germany’s Lufthansa had already halted flights to Beirut until October 26, but it has now extended the suspension for flights to and from both Tel Aviv and Tehran until October 14 due to the rising tensions. Lufthansa stated it is continuing to “monitor the situation closely” and will assess it further in the coming days.
Egypt’s state-owned airline also announced it would suspend all flights to Beirut starting Tuesday until the situation stabilizes. Additionally, all flights by Jordanian airlines to Beirut have been suspended indefinitely in light of the growing regional tensions, as confirmed by the Jordanian Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission.