On June 6, Lebanon's Rene Mouawad Airport in the northern town of Qlayaat officially reopened with a ceremonial flight carrying Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and other officials. The airport is intended to become the country's second international hub, with planned routes to Dubai, Istanbul, and Mersin, Turkey.

Mazen Sammak, president of the Private Pilot Association of Lebanon, called the opening a milestone but stressed that significant challenges remain. Over the next three months, the airport needs to install a temporary terminal, baggage handling systems, security screening, and check-in counters. "You don't even have a bathroom there right now," he said.

The project gained momentum after the regime change in Syria in December 2024. The former Assad government had opposed the airport, allegedly fearing competition for Syrian airports. With new governments in both Syria and Lebanon (Salam took office in 2025), plans advanced rapidly.

The airport is seen as an economic boost for northern Lebanon, one of the country's poorest regions. However, some fear it could become a target for Israeli attacks. Israel struck Beirut airport in 2006 but not during the recent conflict. Sammak dismissed the connection, arguing that Israel could hit both airports if it chose to. "We look at this airport as an economic catalyst and as a contingency," he said.

The airport is expected to serve 115,000 passengers in its first year and up to 600,000 by the fourth year. Sammak warned against political interference in staffing, emphasizing the need for independent experts rather than politically appointed individuals. He hopes the project avoids the patronage practices that have plagued other post-civil war reconstruction efforts.

Source: www.aljazeera.com