Trump authorises direct US flights to Lebanon after 40 years
Move follows landmark White House meeting with President Joseph Aoun
WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump has announced that his administration will allow direct commercial flights between the United States and Lebanon, marking a major step towards restoring air links suspended for more than 40 years.
The announcement came during a joint press conference with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House on Tuesday.
Aoun's visit is the first by a Lebanese president to Washington since 2009 and focused on strengthening bilateral ties, security cooperation and efforts to stabilise southern Lebanon.
US-Lebanon flights
Trump said he had directed his administration to permit US airlines to operate direct services to Lebanon, describing it as a way to make it easier for Americans to visit the country. In a post on Truth Social, he said he hoped other nations would also restore direct air connections with Lebanon.
If implemented, the decision would pave the way for the first direct US-Lebanon commercial flights since 1985, when Washington suspended services following the hijacking of TWA Flight 847. The 17-day hostage crisis, which resulted in the killing of US Navy diver Robert Stethem, led to decades-long restrictions on direct air travel.
Security review
While the announcement represents a significant policy shift, direct flights are not expected to resume immediately. US authorities, including the Federal Aviation Administration, will first conduct security assessments before approving commercial operations to Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport.
Individual airlines will also decide whether to launch services after evaluating operational, commercial and security conditions.
The US State Department continues to maintain a Level 4 "Do Not Travel" advisory for Lebanon, citing terrorism, armed conflict, civil unrest and kidnapping risks.