Lebanon Reopens Rene Mouawad Airport in Qlayaat as Second International Hub

Lebanon reopened Rene Mouawad Airport in the northern town of Qlayaat on June 6 with a ceremonial flight carrying Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and other officials. The airport had been closed for years and now serves as the country’s second international facility after Beirut International Airport. Officials said the site could handle smaller planes and low-cost carriers within three months.

Rehabilitation work was originally scheduled to finish around mid-2026. Israeli attacks that began in late 2024 shifted government priorities and delayed progress at the site. 2 million, according to figures cited in the reporting. A third ceasefire effort was announced earlier this week.

Mazen Sammak, president of the Private Pilot Association of Lebanon, said the airport could serve about 115,000 passengers in its first year and reach 600,000 by the fourth year. Over the next three months crews will install a temporary terminal, baggage handling areas, security screening, and check-in counters.

Three destinations have already been confirmed: Istanbul, Dubai, and Mersin in Turkey. Sammak described the project as both an economic catalyst for northern Lebanon and a contingency measure. He said experts rather than political appointees will be needed to complete safety certifications and secure additional routes.