Beirut flights cancelled; US issues Lebanon travel advisory

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Some flights at Beirut airport have been cancelled or delayed, with Lebanon‘s Middle East Airlines (MEA) saying disruptions to its schedule were related to insurance risks, as tensions escalate between Israel and armed political group Hezbollah.

A rocket strike that killed 12 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Saturday has added to concerns that Israel and the Iran-backed group could engage in a full-scale conflict.

Israel’s security cabinet on Sunday authorised the government to respond to the strike. Hezbollah denied any responsibility for the attack, the deadliest in Israel or Israeli-annexed territory since Hamas’ October 7 assault.

Which airlines have cancelled Beirut flights?

Air France said on Monday that due to the security situation at the destination, it will suspend flights between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Beirut for July 29 and 30.

“Air France is monitoring the situation in Lebanon in real time,” the airline said.

Jordan’s flag carrier Royal Jordanian Airlines has suspended flights to Beirut on Monday and Tuesday, Jordanian Television reported, citing a statement from the airline on Monday.

The airline said evaluation was ongoing regarding flights scheduled for Tuesday.

Lufthansa and Lufthansa’s Eurowings cancelled three flights to Beirut scheduled for Monday afternoon, according to the information board at the airport and flight tracking website Flightradar24.

“Due to the current developments in the Middle East, the airlines Lufthansa, Swiss and Eurowings of the Lufthansa Group have decided to suspend their flights from to/from Beirut up to and including 5 August,” a Lufthansa spokesperson told media.

Turkish Airlines also cancelled two flights overnight on Sunday and Turkey-based budget carrier SunExpress, Turkish Airlines subsidiary AJet, Greek carrier Aegean Airlines, Ethiopian Air and MEA cancelled flights scheduled to land in Beirut on Monday, Flightradar24 showed.

Qatar Airways will adjust its schedule to ensure all flights to Beirut operate during daytime, according to a spokesperson. The airlines did not immediately respond to requests for comment, reported international media.

Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport is Lebanon‘s only airport. It has been targeted previously – during the country’s civil strife, and in conflicts with Israel.

On Sunday, Lebanon’s Ministry of External Affairs said it had delayed the departure of some flights set to land in Beirut overnight. Additional delays to flights landing on Monday were then announced due to “technical reasons related to the distribution of insurance risks for aircraft between Lebanon and other destinations”, MEA said.

US, UK and France issue travel advisory

The US issued a security alert and a travel advisory to its citizens in Lebanon on July 28. The advisory read, “The US Embassy reminds American citizens to review the current travel advisory, which strongly urges to reconsider travel to Lebanon.”

It warned of flight disruptions “amid heightened tension in the region.” It also emphasised the need for travellers to “make alternate plans” if necessary.

Other countries such as UK and France, issued urgent travel advisories Sunday, asking their citizens to avoid or leave Lebanon immediately.

The UK Foreign Office also updated its travel advisory, urging British nationals to exercise extreme caution and avoid “all travel to Lebanon.”

Read: Global airlines suspend flights on Middle East tensions