Beirut: The first Air Alg©rie flight in years landed moments ago at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, marking the official resumption of direct air service between Algeria and Lebanon at a rate of two weekly flights. The move fulfills a promise made by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun during the latter’s recent official visit to Algiers.

According to National News Agency – Lebanon, welcoming the flight were Minister of Information Paul Morcos, who had been part of the official Lebanese delegation to Algeria, along with MP Qassem Hachem, head of the Lebanese-Algerian Friendship Committee, Algerian Ambassador to Lebanon Kamal Bou Shama, and Director General of Civil Aviation, Engineer Amin Jaber.

The last inaugural flight between the two capitals took place on June 21, 2023, following a suspension of service dating back to 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Air transport cooperation between Lebanon and Algeria dates to 1970, when the two countries signed a bilateral air services agreement, a testament to the long-standing historical and human ties between the two nations.