An internal ICAO report says Beirut International Airport lacks effective
certification and shows multiple safety-management deficiencies that could delay
U.S. plans to restore direct U.S.-Lebanon flights. The report flags firefighting
capacity only for single-aisle aircraft (insufficient for widebody long-haul
jets), expired temporary certification, no emergency plans, a shortage of
qualified inspectors at Lebanon’s civil aviation regulator, and an incomplete
accident-investigation body. President Trump previously signed an order to
resume direct U.S.-Lebanon services, but the FAA and TSA must complete safety
reviews; three U.S. aviation sources say carriers are unlikely to restart
Lebanon routes in the near term for security reasons. Lebanon’s transport
minister says remediation work has begun, the airport certification process will
start Saturday and temporary certification is expected within days, though
conflict has slowed progress.
