Construction begins at Qleiat airport ahead of an airport beyond Hezbollah’s control  

The rehabilitation and reopening of Qleiat Airport has entered its implementation phase, with ground preparation, foundation work, and the installation of steel columns now underway. These works mark the first steps toward restoring the infrastructure needed to reopen the airport to civilian flights after years of inactivity.

The project could bring major benefits to Akkar, a region long affected by limited investment and economic neglect. It is expected to create jobs, boost tourism and local businesses, and give northern Lebanon a direct air gateway that brings the region closer to services and investment.

Reopening Qleiat Airport could also reshape Lebanon’s aviation sector. A second international airport in the north, outside Hezbollah’s areas of influence, would end Beirut Airport’s monopoly as the country’s only civilian air gateway and give the state greater flexibility in managing one of Lebanon’s most sensitive public facilities.