People want to leave Lebanon - Chaos at Beirut airport
After several international airlines temporarily suspended their flights to Lebanon due to concerns about escalation in the Middle East, chaos reigns at Beirut Airport. Many passengers have been waiting for their flights since the early morning hours, according to their own reports. Sources at the airport reported long lines at check-in counters, leading to delays and panic. Many passengers are frustrated as they have missed connecting flights.
"I was supposed to fly to Germany via Istanbul at dawn, but the flight has been delayed several times. Now it's scheduled to depart at 6 pm," a traveler told the German Press Agency. A father of a five-member family said he had been at the airport since Sunday. His flight to the Turkish metropolis of Istanbul had been delayed multiple times.
Beirut Airport is the only international airport in the country. Apart from the German Lufthansa group, airlines like the French Air France and several airlines from the Arab region have also temporarily suspended their flights to and from Beirut.
The security situation in the Middle East has become even more tense following the killing of two key opponents of Israel. After the killing of Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut and Hamas' external operations chief Ismail Haniyeh in the Iranian capital Tehran, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, Hamas, and Iran have all vowed revenge, blaming Israel for the attacks.
The traveler is currently stuck at Beirut Airport, hoping her delayed flight to Germany via Istanan will depart at 6 pm. Due to the suspensions, only domestic flights are operating from the only international airport in Lebanon, Beirut Airport.
