BEIRUT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – ANY PROPSPECT OF A SOLUTION?
It appears that the forecasts around a promising Lebanese summer in 2023 have proven correct.
Initial predictions confirm that more than one and a half million tourists and members of the diaspora are expected to arrive in Lebanon during the course of this summer.
These previsions have been held hostage to lack of planning while no practical action plan to absorb these numbers has been implemented. Arriving passengers at the Rafic Hariri international airport are facing congestion and chaotic conditions.
It has become evident that this congestion results from the insufficient numbers of airport employees on the one hand and the need to update and maintain the airport’s information system on the other. This has compelled the General Security directorate to devise stopgap solutions to manage the workflow and ensure continuity of the activity of the airport albeit at a slower pace according to remarks made by the Director General of General Security.
In the face of systemic challenges and financial burdens facing the security apparatus and the civil authorities responsible for the management of the Rafik Hariri international airport, we feel it is necessary to appreciate the efforts that have been deployed to remedy and mitigate the resulting consequences.
The Lebanese Private Sector Network does however condemn the general carelessness prevalent at the Rafik Hariri International airport and the unjustified price gouging by Middle East Airlines on both incoming and departing tickets from Lebanon.
The Network calls on the Ministries of the Interior and Municipalities, of Public Works, of Tourism as well as the Airport Security authority, Middle East Airlines and all other relevant bodies to immdediately work on solving the systemic problems that hinder the arrival of tourists and members of the diaspora.
This is of added importance because welcoming diaspora members reinforces their connection to their mother country and also represents a lifeline, though a short one, to help overcome the financial crisis from which Lebanon is suffering. Tourist “dollars” flowing into the country are excpected to approximate 6 billion USD in 2023 and will serve to limit the intervention of the Central Bank in the market to curb the surge of the dollar which has seen its exchange rate stabilize during the past two months.
The continuing candour and short sightedness of the aforementioned relevant authorities and other public bodies has resulted in the restricting of air traffic to one airport only thereby neglecting other airports such as Kleiate.
This exclusivity has not been counterbalanced by efforts to ensure its proper functioning. Consequently, these bodies are called on to adopt a number of immediate short term measures. Of these we can point to increasing human resources to expedite the inflow and outflow of passengers in keeping with best practice.
Other possible solutions would be to upgrade and develop airport information systems, to lease additional aircraft on a seasonal basis or to adhere to open skies agreements with a view towards encouraging lower cost travel. The private sector is willing and able to cooperate with the state to provide the necessary support and assistance both technically and operationally in developing long term and sustainable solutions.