Lebanon inaugurated the René Mouawad Airport in Qlayaat, northern Akkar, as its second international airport, marking the start of its rehabilitation and planned opening within weeks. The airport, previously used as a military base, is expected to begin operations in November 2026 after a pilot phase.
The airport will initially serve destinations including Mersin, Istanbul, and Dubai, with plans to expand to Saudi Arabia, Cairo, and Athens. Lebanese authorities are in contact with low-cost carriers such as Ryanair and Pegasus to support future operations.
Rehabilitation work is scheduled to begin next week and will take at least three months, with the passenger terminal expected to be completed within 90 days of approvals. The airport is projected to handle 114,000 passengers in its first year, rising to over 600,000 by its fourth year.