Full Breakdown
Trump Orders Resumption of Direct US-Beirut Flights Amid ICAO Safety Concerns
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Order to Restore Direct Flights
In July, President Donald Trump announced a plan to end the four-decade suspension of direct commercial flights between the United States and Lebanon, a suspension that began after the 1985 hijacking of TWA Flight 847. He signed an executive order in September authorizing the U.S. government to permit such flights, pending safety reviews by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
Aviation Safety Findings
A technical assistance mission from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) inspected Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport in July and issued a summary report on October 16. The report concluded that the airport’s certification had expired and that it lacked a valid emergency plan. Fire-fighting equipment was adequate only for single-aisle aircraft, not the twin-aisle jets used on long-haul routes. The ICAO assessment also identified deficiencies in the Lebanese Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA), including a shortage of qualified inspectors for air-traffic-control licensing and the absence of an independent aircraft-accident investigation authority. Lebanese Minister of Public Works and Transport Fayez Rasamny said the LCAA would issue a conditional certification within days and that corrective actions had already begun, though progress had been delayed by the country’s war conditions.
Official Responses
The Lebanese embassy in Washington described Trump’s order as a “significant first step” toward restoring direct air service. The FAA declined to comment on the matter, while ICAO said it could not comment on specific countries but conducts targeted analyses for member states. The U.S. State Department continues to advise Americans against travel to Lebanon, and the FAA warned of heightened risks from missile activity in Syrian airspace that could affect flights over Lebanon. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency acknowledged the ICAO report and reminded EU carriers that they must independently assess airport safety before launching service.
Regional Security Context
Israeli forces remain active in southern Lebanon, conducting strikes despite a U.S.–brokered framework agreement signed in June. Hezbollah, which was not a party to the deal, has rejected it. Ongoing missile and drone threats across the Middle East have led foreign airlines to avoid large portions of regional airspace since the February U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.
Outlook for Service
Three U.S. airline officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed doubt that any American carrier will resume flights to Beirut in the near term because of security concerns. While direct U.S.–Beirut flights are not yet operating, service exists between Lebanon and several major European cities, and Lebanon’s national carrier has been praised domestically for maintaining air-navigation services that support an economy reliant on tourism and remittances.