Rafic Hariri Airport: Lebanon's Bet to Revive the Economy and Mitigate 'Beirut Monoculture' Risks

By Ayoub Khedaj (Report) Beirut, Oct 11 (KUNA) -- After decades of closure and limited military use, the President Rene Moawad Airport in northern Lebanon is preparing to reopen to civil aviation in the middle of next month, a move aimed at reviving hopes for economic recovery and reducing the risks of exclusive reliance on Beirut’s airport.

The operation of the airport, located in the Qleiaat area, forms a strategic safety net, especially after successive crises and wars have highlighted the dangers of the state’s complete dependence on a single air artery, Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut. This makes the presence of a second air gateway a guarantee of stability for air navigation and for connecting Lebanon to the world.

Known locally as Qleiaat Airport, the facility is situated in the Akkar plain, just about seven kilometers from the Syrian border and 25 kilometers from the city of Tripoli. Officials and experts view it as a vital step to break the isolation of the north and integrate it into the national and regional economic circuits.

In this context, Ziad Al-Manla, chairman of the board of Manla Group Holding, owner of Sky Longs Services, the operator of Qleiaat Airport, told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that the airport represents a “strategic addition to Lebanon’s transport system” by creating a second air gateway that contributes to expanding the operational capacity of the sector, attracting new airlines and destinations, and strengthening links between Lebanon and regional and international markets.

Al-Manla added that the airport’s importance “transcends air transport, as its location allows for the near-term development of an integrated system linking air, land, and sea transport with logistics services, thereby enhancing the role of the northern region within Lebanon’s transport network.”

He noted that the airport “is not merely an additional air gateway, but can serve as an economic and developmental gateway for Lebanon, and for the northern region in particular.” Its operation would support tourism, trade, transport, and services sectors, create new economic and investment opportunities, and boost passenger and cargo movements in the near future.

He believed that having a second air gateway helps expand Lebanon’s connectivity to regional and international markets and destinations within an integrated system, where Qleiaat Airport acts as a complement to Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut and supports the capabilities of Lebanon’s air transport sector.

Al-Manla stated that the passenger terminal at Qleiaat Airport has been expanded from 2,000 to 4,700 square meters, increasing its capacity to meet the security and operational requirements of the first operational phase.

He pointed out that the next phase involves developing a “Cargo Village” on an area of approximately 200,000 square meters, aiming to establish a regional logistics hub serving Lebanon and extending its reach to markets in Syria and Iraq, as well as several nearby European markets, including Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey.

He clarified that the objective is to leverage the airport’s strategic location to develop cargo and logistics activities and strengthen links between Lebanon, its regional neighborhood, and European markets.

Al-Manla emphasized that work is progressing toward completing the requirements of the first operational phase, while simultaneously finalizing the technical, operational, and security aspects, as well as necessary procedures and approvals. He noted that “the priority is to commence operations after all readiness and safety requirements are met, in coordination between the ministry, the General Directorate of Civil Aviation, security agencies, and other concerned authorities.”

The managing director of the operating company stated that the first phase of operations will utilize Embraer 175 and Embraer 195 aircraft. He noted that the runway at René Moawad Airport is currently classified under Category C according to international standards, allowing it to accommodate and operate larger aircraft than those approved for the initial phase, including Airbus A320 and Airbus A321 models, as well as various Boeing 737 variants. Al-Munla emphasized that work to upgrade the runway will begin in the coming months until it is reclassified under Category E.

In his turn, Captain Mohammad Aziz, head of Lebanon’s Civil Aviation Regulatory Authority, told KUNA that the Qleiatat Airport “will contribute to stimulating economic activity in the North, particularly, and in Lebanon generally, and will create numerous job opportunities for the residents of that area.” He added that its economic impact will extend to Syrian coastal cities due to its proximity to the northern border. He pointed out that operations will commence gradually, in line with the current capacity of the temporary terminal building and technical constraints related to the runway and taxiways. Initially, aircraft using the airport will be restricted in terms of weight and size. He noted that the airport aims to serve 1.5 million passengers annually and will initially cater to travel to nearby regions such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and others.

For her part, Josette Ghafri, a member of the committee for the restart of Qleiatat Airport, told KUNA that the airport constitutes “a vital and essential artery for the northern region and will benefit all of Lebanon, whether by functioning as a domestic airport for passenger and cargo transport or by establishing a modern international airport” that reconnects Lebanese citizens with neighboring Arab countries in particular and other nations. She commended the response to the committee’s call to reactivate the airport while awaiting the completion of necessary infrastructure and the launch of full operations. She highlighted that municipalities in Akkar and the North are preparing for this “major and historic project, which will transform the region’s economy and reconnect Lebanon with its Arab brothers, starting with Syria, which will be the first beneficiary due to its proximity.”

For his part, Minister of Interior and Municipalities Ahmad Al-Hajar affirmed in a media statement that the airport security apparatus and other security agencies under the Ministry of Interior are fully prepared to ensure the airport’s operation and guarantee a safe and organized launch of this vital facility once all construction works and required installations are completed.

As airports evolve from mere transport infrastructure into engines for growth and the redistribution of investments and economic opportunities, Qleiatat Airport is expected to provide an opportunity to reintegrate Lebanon’s North into the production and investment cycle, playing a role that extends beyond developing the aviation sector to revitalizing Lebanon’s overall economic activity.

Transport experts noted that the importance of this airport transcends the economic and social spheres of the northern region, extending to the security domain, particularly in the aftermath of the recent war on Lebanon and subsequent security developments at various stages, which exposed the vulnerability of the state’s complete reliance on a single air artery, Rafic Hariri International Airport.

Economic estimates by the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture in Tripoli indicate that activating this facility will secure approximately 6,000 job opportunities in its initial phase.

Experts affirmed that linking the airport to the Port of Tripoli, the Special Economic Zone, and road transport networks would transform northern Lebanon into a vital regional logistics hub connecting the Mediterranean with Arab markets, particularly following the signing by the Ports of Tripoli and Beirut of a joint declaration to launch the “India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor Ports Club.” According to a statement by the signatories in New Delhi, India, on October 6, the signing took place “in the context of expanding cooperation among ports located along the Economic Corridor route, which aims to enhance commercial and logistical connectivity between India, the Middle East, the Mediterranean region, and Europe, and to open opportunities for ports and economic partners to contribute to the development of this route.”

The airport possesses important geographical features, as it is situated within the coastal Akkar plain. It is located approximately seven kilometers from the Lebanese-Syrian border, about 25 kilometers from the Port of Tripoli, and roughly 106 kilometers from Beirut. It also adjoins extensive agricultural and industrial areas.

Last June, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam launched the rehabilitation and operationalization of the airport, describing it as “more than an investment project; it is a step at the heart of balanced development.” He noted that Lebanon “needs a modern and integrated aviation infrastructure, as well as the integration of its regions into the national economic cycle.” Salam stated at the time that the airport “is part of Lebanon’s political and constitutional memory,” as after the conclusion of parliamentary meetings in Taif and the return of MPs from Saudi Arabia, the Lebanese Parliament held its session at Qleiat Airport on November 5, 1989, and adopted the constitutional version of the “National Accord Document,” widely known as the “Taif Agreement,” in which President Rene Moawad was elected President of the Republic.”

The origins of Qleiat Airport date back to 1941, when it was established by the Allies during World War II in the Akkar plain as a military airbase, owing to its distinctive geographical location on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean and its proximity to land routes leading to Syria, Palestine, and Iraq. The airport was subsequently used for limited civil aviation but was returned to the control of the Lebanese Army in the 1960s. After the civil war, it continued to be used for limited military purposes. (End) A.Y.B./T.M.A.