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Airlines Reduce Number of Flights to Beirut

A general view shows Beirut airport, Lebanon June 19, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
A general view shows Beirut airport, Lebanon June 19, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
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Airlines Reduce Number of Flights to Beirut

A general view shows Beirut airport, Lebanon June 19, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
A general view shows Beirut airport, Lebanon June 19, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

The financial and economic crisis in Lebanon has had an effect on all vital sectors, especially tourism. On the eve of Christmas and New Year, the country seemed devoid of joy that usually surrounded the streets.
 
Travel and tourism companies have seen a sharp decline in reservations for the holidays. Sources at Rafic Hariri International Airport told Asharq Al-Awsat that several airlines have reduced the number of their inbound and outbound flights. They added that this reduction was linked to the cancellation of many reservations, and not for any other reason.
 
Tourism companies that used to promote their offers two months ago seem almost absent from the social media. They have been unable to pay the salaries of their employees and cover the expenses of their offices in Lebanon and abroad.
 
Christelle Majdalani, Sales Manager at Nakhal for Travel and Tourism (one of the largest travel companies in Lebanon), told Asharq Al-Awsat that the financial and economic crisis has had a negative impact on the tourism sector and on the Lebanese reservations abroad.
 
“Travel reservations for Christmas and New Year holidays outside the country have fallen to 10 percent,” she said.

“Citizens residing in Lebanon prefer to stay home because of the scarcity of liquidity, burdens of life and inflation,” she added.
 
Turkey and Egypt remain the first destination for the Lebanese wishing to travel for leisure, due to very reasonable prices and the low exchange rate against the US dollar, compared to European countries.
 
Majdalani noted that those who booked flights to travel abroad for the holidays were the ones who have external funding sources, and cash transfers from parents or children working abroad, but they are few.
 
The crisis is also impacting hotels and restaurants. A source at the Hotel Owners Syndicate told Asharq Al-Awsat that reservations this year were almost at their lowest levels.

“A large number of tourism institutions will not organize special events on Christmas and New Year due to the difficult economic conditions,” the sources said.
 

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Salam: $12 Billion Needed for Lebanon’s Post-War Reconstruction

Officials are seen at the roundtable on the Emergency Support Project for Lebanon. (Prime Minister’s Office)
Officials are seen at the roundtable on the Emergency Support Project for Lebanon. (Prime Minister’s Office)
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Salam: $12 Billion Needed for Lebanon’s Post-War Reconstruction

Officials are seen at the roundtable on the Emergency Support Project for Lebanon. (Prime Minister’s Office)
Officials are seen at the roundtable on the Emergency Support Project for Lebanon. (Prime Minister’s Office)

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced that the cost of the country’s recovery following the latest destructive war with Israel is estimated at approximately $12 billion, stressing that the goal “is not only to rebuild, but to build back better through a more sustainable, inclusive, and transparent approach.”

Speaking at a roundtable on the “Emergency Support Project for Lebanon,” Salam outlined the urgent need for international funding to rehabilitate critical services and public infrastructure severely damaged by the war.

The event gathered diplomats from Arab, European, and Western countries, alongside representatives from global institutions and aid organizations.

“Lebanon stands at a critical crossroads,” Salam said in his opening remarks. “Despite hopes for a summer of renewal, the country is grappling with the devastating consequences of the Israeli war, which has cost many lives and crippled essential infrastructure nationwide.”

According to Salam, the Nabatieh and South Governorates suffered the most destruction, followed by parts of Mount Lebanon, including Beirut’s southern suburbs. The economic toll has been steep, with Lebanon’s real GDP contracting by 7.1% in 2024, compared to just 0.9% the previous year. Since 2020, Lebanon’s economy has shrunk by nearly 40%, deepening an already severe financial crisis.

To address this, the government launched the Lebanon Emergency Assistance Program (LEAP) initiative, a $1 billion framework designed to transition from immediate relief to long-term reconstruction.

Salam described LEAP as a transformative agenda, not merely a stopgap measure. The program focuses on restoring services, rebuilding infrastructure, and laying the foundation for climate-resilient and inclusive recovery.

LEAP prioritizes transparency and regional equity, with mechanisms across ministries to ensure aid reaches the communities most in need. “This is not a project Lebanon can undertake alone,” Salam said. “We are calling for coordinated international support within a unified, state-led framework that strengthens national institutions and rebuilds public trust.”

“The collapse of Lebanon’s financial sector is not just due to crisis,” he added, “but to years of poor governance and impunity. Meaningful reform is no longer optional, it is essential.”

In a related development, Salam revealed that over 500 weapons depots in southern Lebanon have been dismantled as part of broader efforts to restore state authority. He also confirmed enhanced security at Beirut’s international airport, while reiterating calls on Israel to halt its attacks and withdraw from disputed border areas.