Latest news with #RaficHaririInternationalAirport
LBCI
05-05-2025
- Business
- LBCI
Finance Minister heads to Baghdad to boost Lebanese-Iraqi coordination on fuel, telecom, and oil supply
Finance Minister Yassine Jaber departed for Baghdad to hold meetings with top Iraqi officials to enhance cooperation between Lebanon and Iraq, particularly in fuel supplies for Lebanon's electricity sector. Discussions will also cover telecommunications and the oil pipeline project. Speaking from Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport, Jaber said the visit has multiple objectives, including expressing gratitude for Iraq's continued support to Lebanon over the years—especially during times of crisis—by providing fuel for electricity, recent shipments of wheat and other forms of ongoing social aid. Jaber noted that talks would cover key issues of mutual interest, such as electricity, fiber-optic connectivity that could link Iraq to Europe through Lebanon, and the oil pipeline project. The delegation will also address Lebanon's outstanding financial dues to Iraq. Before his departure, Jaber met with Education Minister Rima Karami to discuss strategies for securing the needs of Lebanon's education sector.
MTV Lebanon
17-04-2025
- Business
- MTV Lebanon
Rasamny holds bilateral talks with Qatari Transport Minister
Minister of Public Works Fayez Rasamny took part in the 2025 ICAO Facilitation Conference (FALC 2025), which convened in the Qatari capital, Doha, on April 14, with representatives from 190 countries in attendance. The Lebanese delegation included Director General of Civil Aviation Amin Jaber, Head of Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport Kamal Nassereddine, Head of Aviation Safety Omar Qaddouha, and the minister's legal advisor, Hadi Moussa. On the sidelines of the conference, Minister Rasamny held a bilateral meeting with Qatar's Minister of Transport Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Thani. Discussions focused on potential avenues for cooperation between the two ministries, particularly in the field of joint land transport, and on Lebanon's key needs at Beirut Airport, with an emphasis on benefiting from Qatar's technical expertise in this domain.
National News
17-04-2025
- Business
- National News
Rasamny at ICAO 2025: Beirut Airport modernization reflects Lebanon's commitment to facilitation, sustainability, and secure governance
NNA - The ongoing modernization of Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport 'reflects Lebanon's commitment to enhancing passenger facilitation, improving the travel experience, and upgrading border management in a way that balances security with seamless mobility,' said Minister of Public Works and Transport Fayez Rasamny, reaffirming the country's deep engagement with the principles of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), particularly the 'No Country Left Behind' initiative. Rasamny made his remarks on Thursday during the ICAO Facilitation Conference 2025 (FALC 2025), held in the Qatari capital, Doha, with the participation of representatives from 190 countries. The Lebanese delegation included Director General of Civil Aviation Amin Jaber, Head of Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport Kamal Nassereddine, Head of Aviation Safety Omar Qaddouha, and the Minister's legal advisor Hadi Moussa. Rasamny noted that Lebanon's cooperation with ICAO has been instrumental in shaping its national aviation strategy, aligning regulatory frameworks with international standards, and advancing modernization efforts across the sector. The Minister pointed to the integration of biometric technologies, enhanced data exchange, and inter-agency coordination as core features of Lebanon's efforts to modernize air travel while ensuring safety and efficiency. In alignment with ICAO's sustainability goals, Rasamny said Lebanon was implementing the CORSIA emissions reduction mechanism and investing in Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs), as outlined in its 'State Action Plan' for decarbonization, which includes future investments in alternative fuels and environmentally friendly technologies. Rasamny further underscored Lebanon's ongoing efforts to strengthen aviation security and regulatory compliance, highlighting recent progress in biometric identification and harmonization with EU aviation regulations as essential to effective governance and restoring traveler confidence. Looking ahead, Rasamny emphasized the importance of international cooperation, especially in capacity-building for countries with limited resources. 'Such support is vital to managing increased air traffic, meeting global standards, and ensuring aviation remains a driver of economic development,' he said. 'Lebanon reaffirms its full support for ICAO's objectives, welcomes the Doha Declaration, and expresses readiness to continue working with all member states to build a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable global aviation sector,' Rasamny concluded. The conference is set to conclude with the issuance of the 'Doha Declaration on International Air Transport Facilitation,' aimed at guiding public policy and strengthening global commitment to a unified strategic framework for facilitation.
Asharq Al-Awsat
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Lebanon Begins Clearing Beirut, Airport Road of Political Banners
Lebanese authorities have launched a sweeping campaign to remove political party flags, posters, and slogans from Beirut's streets and the main road to Rafic Hariri International Airport, in a move aimed at restoring the capital's image and promoting tourism. The cleanup, which began early Wednesday, was ordered by Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar and Beirut Governor Marwan Abboud, with municipal crews and Internal Security Forces overseeing its execution. The initiative is part of a broader government plan to improve public spaces and reflect state authority, especially in areas highly visible to visitors. 'This is about presenting a unified, civil image of Lebanon,' al-Hajjar told Asharq Al-Awsat, emphasizing that the effort aligns with the government's commitment to assert state sovereignty and support economic recovery. 'The President pledged to restore the state's authority, and that includes enhancing the appearance and functionality of our cities,' he added. Starting from central Beirut and stretching along the airport highway, the operation targets all political symbols — including those of powerful groups like Hezbollah and the Amal Movement — as well as commercial billboards installed on public property. Abboud confirmed that all major parties were informed of the decision and responded cooperatively. 'There's consensus that the capital and airport road should reflect the Lebanese state — not individual factions,' he said, adding that the airport zone must be safe and firmly under state control. The campaign is also part of preparations for the upcoming summer tourism season, with expectations of increased arrivals from Arab countries, expatriates, and international visitors. Authorities have prioritized street lighting and infrastructure upgrades as part of the broader revitalization. 'In just a few months, we've gone from pleading for diesel to keep the airport running, to relighting the entire route from the city center to the terminal,' said Abboud. 'We want Beirut to look like a city of joy and openness.' Party-related imagery placed on public property along Beirut's roads has long caused tension, often dividing neighborhoods along political lines. Security officials say the removal effort has proceeded smoothly and without resistance, marking a rare show of unity in a politically fractured country. 'The state respects everyone's right to political activity,' a security source said. 'But that no longer includes turning public space into partisan territory.'
LBCI
16-04-2025
- Business
- LBCI
‘New face' for Lebanon: Beirut airport road revamp targets infrastructure and political banners
Report by Joe Farchakh, English adaptation by Karine Keuchkerian Welcome to Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport — the gateway to Lebanon and the first impression for every visitor. What lingers with travelers on the ride from the airport to the capital? Traffic, disorder, and visual clutter. But that reality is beginning to change. The airport road is no longer just a route between the airport and the capital, Beirut — it is also a political and cultural showcase of the country. In a clear message to the international community, tourists, and Lebanese expatriates, authorities have launched a plan to rehabilitate the airport road. The effort is expected to extend to other areas as well. The project goes beyond basic repaving. It includes road resurfacing, replacing damaged sidewalks, installing protective side barriers, upgrading and maintaining traffic signals, removing visually disruptive billboards, improving street lighting and landscaping, restoring stormwater drainage systems, and installing new ventilation fans in the tunnels leading to the airport. The rehabilitation project is part of a broader vision to transform Beirut into a city free of sectarian, political, and partisan slogans. In both directions, the Interior Ministry has begun implementing this plan along the road from downtown Beirut to the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium area. Through its ministries, departments, and agencies, the government has committed to the rehabilitation effort in partnership with the private sector, particularly Middle East Airlines, Lebanon's national carrier, which is assisting with work on the airport road. But, as always, the real test lies in execution.
