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President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he was calling for United States airlines to resume direct flights to Lebanon, after four decades without that option.
The president’s announcement came after his meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, with the pair showing a mostly united front even as the U.S.’s key ally Israel continues its efforts to battle Houthis in the Middle Eastern country.
Trump said in a post on Truth Social that given Aoun’s “remarkable job” in transforming Lebanon, “I am hereby directing my Administration to allow all U.S. airline carriers to fly directly to Lebanon so that Americans can easily visit this beautiful land. Hopefully, other Countries will do the same.”
For Lebanon, restoring direct U.S. air links would carry symbolic weight beyond tourism revenue. It would represent one of the clearest signs in decades that Washington sees the country as stable enough to reconnect directly with the American aviation network, a relationship that was severed in the aftermath of a notorious 1980s airline hijacking.
Why Were Direct Flights Halted?
Direct commercial flights between the United States and Lebanon have effectively been suspended since 1985, when the Reagan administration moved to halt service following the hijacking of TWA Flight 847.
The Boeing 727 was seized after departing Athens and forced to Beirut, where passengers were held hostage for more than two weeks. One U.S. Navy diver, Robert Stethem, was killed during the ordeal. U.S. officials subsequently imposed restrictions that prevented direct air service between the two countries.
Can US Citizens Travel to Lebanon?
Even if the administration authorizes service, direct flights may not begin immediately.
Lebanon currently has a Level 4—Do Not Travel rating from the U.S. Department of State, meaning Americans are strongly advised not to head to the country.
Airlines would also need to determine whether sufficient passenger demand exists to support nonstop routes from cities such as New York, Detroit or Washington, D.C. Airlines would also need to navigate insurance, security, and operational considerations tied to the regional security situation.
According to aviation safety advisories, Israeli military operations and broader Middle East tensions continue to affect assessments of Lebanese airspace.
When Did Trump Host Lebanese President Joseph Aoun?
The announcement came during Aoun’s visit to Washington on Tuesday and can be seen as part of a broader effort to strengthen ties between the two countries after years of instability in Lebanon.
Trump described Aoun as having done a “remarkable job” transforming the country, after the pair held a press briefing in the Oval Office, during which the U.S. president was asked about the ongoing conflict in Iran.
Trump appeared skeptical of further talks with Iran, telling reporters, “I will tell you, they want to desperately meet. And until they’re ready to meet in a meaningful way, we have no interest in meeting.”
Iran and the U.S. escalated attacks in recent days, with their interim deal to end the war falling apart.
Aoun was expected to ask Trump to pressure Israel to implement a U.S.-brokered agreement in which Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops would be drawn down from “pilot zones” ahead of a wider withdrawal.
Is There Actually Demand for US-Lebanon Flights?
While Lebanon is not a major destination for mainstream American tourism, there is a substantial Lebanese-American community that could provide a built-in customer base for nonstop flights.
The 2020 Census counted roughly 686,000 Americans of Lebanese ancestry, making Lebanese Americans the largest single Middle Eastern-origin group recorded by the Census. Other estimates place the figure at more than 1 million. Major Lebanese-American populations are concentrated in Michigan, New York, California, Florida, Texas, and New Jersey.
Travel industry observers have long viewed Lebanon as a strong “visiting friends and relatives” market. Much of the country’s tourism sector relies on expatriates and dual nationals returning to see family, particularly during summer months. In 2022, Lebanese nationals and dual citizens accounted for roughly 63 percent of inbound visitors to Lebanon.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Gabe Whisnant and Sam Wilson.
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