News: Beirut airport closed
Flights > News > # 850 (14/07/2006)
Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International airport has been closed after an attack by Israeli fighter jets damaged its runways.
Israel’s military is attacking targets across Lebanon after forces from the Shiite Muslim group Hezbollah crossed the border into the north of Israel yesterday, starting clashes that led to the death of eight Israeli soldiers and the capture of two others. Israel's government said Beirut airport is being used to transfer Hezbollah arms.
A spokesman for the facility, which is the only international airport in the Lebanon, said: “We are currently assessing the damage to see when we can reopen the airport. No one was hurt in the attack.”
Emirates, the biggest Arab airline, British Airways, Lufthansa and other carriers diverted flights and cancelled others until further notice. Middle East Airlines (MEA), Lebanon's national carrier, said it sent more than half its fleet to Cyprus as a “precautionary measure'' before the Israeli strike.
British Airways franchise partner British Mediterranean Airways operate daily flights from London Heathrow to Beirut, but the route has been suspended until further notice. Passengers who have bought booked to travel to Beirut are advised to contact the airline, online consolidator or travel agent they made the booking with for further details.
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Comment:
I had the good fortune to visit Beirut this time last year, and was instantly spellbound by the city. The physical scars from years of war were still evident – many buildings were riddled with gaping shell holes, others were eerily derelict – though huge efforts were being made to bring Beirut back to life. The city was receiving glowing praise in the travel press and Beirut’s burgeoning bar and club scene was even hailed in style bible Wallpaper. The food was the best I have ever had in the Mediterranean and a host of swanky new hotels and office blocks were being built. A sense of optimism was apparent everywhere I went, although one prophetic man I spoke to added a note of caution to the usual bonhomie. “It is almost too good, it was like this in 1996 (before Israel launched their ‘Grapes of Wrath’ air strikes on the Lebanese capital), but our neighbours don’t like to see Beirut having a good time.”
I promised myself I would return to Beirut as soon as possible and had planned to spend New Year there with my girlfriend, but the word had obviously spread – I couldn’t get a room for love nor money. Sadly many of those bookings will have been hastily cancelled over the last few days as trouble escalated and the country could take years to get back on its feet again.
I will be on the first available flight to Beirut as soon as the airport is back up and running, because I think the best way to help the Lebanese will be to spend my cash in the Middle East’s most exciting and cosmopolitan destination.
