Lebanese carrier Middle East Airlines (MEA) decided to move its aircraft to neighboring countries as a precaution in case of conflict. By Telegram channel Lebanon NewsThe planes were sent to Cyprus, Türkiye and Jordan.
The decision follows changes to the company’s insurance coverage policy following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.
Mohammed Al-Hout, the company’s president, said only eight of the company’s 22 aircraft will fly to Beirut this week, while the rest will be transferred to other airports.
Some of the planes will also go to Oman. Seven aircraft will continue to fly to Beirut Airport as usual.
Al-Hout added that insurance companies began to worry about the risk of war with the start of military operations by Israel and Hamas.
According to the airline’s president, insurance coverage for war risks has been reduced by approximately 80%. “But our priority is to ensure communication between Lebanon and the rest of the world,” the company’s president said.
“We have no information about a possible attack on the airport in Lebanon, sources say that military operations will remain within the rules of engagement and only in the south of Lebanon,” Al-Hout said.
Similar concerns arose during the July 2006 war, when Israeli airstrikes targeted Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport.
“In 2006, the airport was bombed and six planes were stranded in Lebanon. The Israelis cooperated with the company and gave us time to evacuate the planes. But today the situation is different and we are talking about insurance companies,” Al-Hout explained.
Due to increased regional tensions due to the war between Israel and Hamas, many countries have advised their citizens to leave Lebanon.
On Friday, the Omani embassy in Beirut called on its citizens to leave Lebanon immediately “due to the events taking place in the region.”
Former Israeli military applied Two Hezbollah cells on the Lebanese border were attacked.