Kleyat:Beirut Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has announced a detailed schedule for the reopening of President René Mouawad Airport in Kleyat, marking December 14, 2026, as the date for the start of regular commercial flights. This follows the opening of flight bookings on November 15 and the commencement of test flights on November 22.
According to National news agency - Lebanon, the announcement came after a meeting held on November 9 at the Grand Serail, where Salam reviewed the ongoing preparations for the airport's reopening. The meeting was attended by several key figures, including Minister of Interior and Municipalities Ahmad Hajjar and Minister of Public Works and Transport Fayez Rasamny, among others.
Discussions during the meeting focused on the progress of the technical and operational preparations necessary for launching air traffic from the airport. Salam revealed that the official announcement of the airport's destinations, initial flight schedules, and departure times will occur on November 15, coinciding with the start of flight bookings.
Test flights are set to begin on November 22, aligning with Lebanon's Independence Day and the anniversary of former President René Mouawad's assassination, after whom the airport is named. The initiation of regular commercial flights on December 14, 2026, is seen as a significant milestone in enhancing Lebanon's air connectivity with international destinations.
Salam highlighted that the reopening of Kleyat Airport is expected to foster economic development and boost tourism, creating new opportunities for growth in northern Lebanon and the country as a whole.