Israel-Hezbollah Tension Leads Airlines to Cancel Beirut Flights

Several airlines, including Greece’s AEGEAN, are adjusting their flight schedules to the Middle East as tensions rise between Hezbollah in Lebanon and Israel.

Specifically, on Monday, July 29, flights to and from Beirut International Airport were canceled or delayed following a rocket strike in the Golan Heights, Israel, on Saturday that killed 12 children and teenagers.

AEGEAN announced it is canceling several flights while monitoring the situation daily. Lufthansa, Swiss, and Eurowings of the Lufthansa Group have decided to suspend their flights to and from Beirut through August 5.

Air France stated on Monday it is monitoring the situation in real-time and has currently suspended flights between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Beirut for July 29 and 30, 2024, due to security concerns at the destination.

A Qatar Airways representative announced the airline will adjust its schedule to ensure all flights to Beirut on Monday, July 29, take place.

Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Middle East Airlines, which rescheduled several flights on Sunday for the next day, July 29, announced that the disruptions were related to insurance risks.

Beirut airport’s flight information board and flight tracking website Flightradar24 showed Turkish Airlines also canceled two flights overnight on Sunday.

Photo source: Ministry of Information Lebanese Republic

Germany and Norway have advised their citizens to leave Lebanon, while other countries, including the US and Denmark, reiterated that travel to Lebanon is not advised and recommended their citizens to leave before the situation deteriorates further.

The rocket strike in the Golan Heights on Saturday has heightened concerns that a full-scale war could erupt between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah. Israel’s security cabinet authorized the government on Sunday to respond to the strike.