Lebanon just took a major step toward reconnecting with the United States.
President Donald Trump has officially lifted the decades-old restrictions preventing U.S. airlines from operating direct flights to Lebanon, opening the door for American carriers to launch nonstop routes to Beirut for the first time in more than 40 years.
The decision was formalized in a presidential determination which was published in the U.S. Federal Register on October 5. It revokes the previous presidential determinations that had prohibited U.S. carriers from operating direct flights to Lebanon.
The restrictions date back to 1985, following the hijacking of TWA Flight 847, which was forced to land in Beirut during a 17-day ordeal that included the killing of a U.S. Navy diver. The ban remained in place for more than four decades.
Trump first announced his intention to lift the restrictions following his meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House in July. Aoun has since welcomed the formal decision, describing it as a sign of confidence in Lebanon’s efforts to improve civil aviation safety.
For travelers, the move could eventually mean shorter journeys, fewer connections, and easier trips between Lebanon and the United States, particularly for the large Lebanese diaspora living across America.
However, Airlines will still need to work through the necessary operational and security requirements before services begin.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has said it looks forward to working with airlines and other government agencies to support the safe return of flights to Lebanon.
What about Canada?
The move could also provide momentum for better air connectivity with other countries that have large Lebanese communities.
961 is actively working with members of the Lebanese community in Canada to lobby for direct flights between Canada and Lebanon, aiming to make travel home easier for the hundreds of thousands of Lebanese Canadians and their families. This builds on our work as far back as 2017 to push for direct flights.
For a country with such a large diaspora, better direct air links could make a meaningful difference for families, tourism, business, and Lebanon’s wider international connections.
