Directorate General of Civil Aviation: Rasamny coordinating with Saddi, EDL to address airport power outage and ensure stable supply
8/13/2025 10:21:00 AM
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation announced that amid an intense heatwave and at the peak of this year’s travel season, Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport experienced a power outage that reduced the facility’s air-conditioning capacity. The disruption came as the number of daily departures reached about 20,000 passengers, nearly double last month’s average, while arrivals stood at roughly 14,000 per day.
The statement noted that this surge coincided with a significant flow of travelers heading to Iraq for the Arbaeen pilgrimage, with an estimated 12,000 expected to depart this week and return by its end. In parallel, around 8,000 Iraqi tourists are projected to visit Lebanon, encouraged by airline promotions to fill inbound flights.
Against this backdrop of exceptional pressure on airport facilities, Minister of Public Works and Transport Fayez Rasamny is working in close coordination with Minister of Energy and Water Joe Saddi, and Électricité du Liban to address the outage’s impact and implement lasting solutions to secure a stable and reliable power supply, preventing future incidents.
The Directorate expressed regret for any inconvenience or delays affecting passengers or staff, affirmed its cooperation with relevant authorities to maintain operational stability, and praised travelers’ patience alongside the extraordinary efforts of airport personnel, security forces, and service teams during the challenging hours.
The statement noted that this surge coincided with a significant flow of travelers heading to Iraq for the Arbaeen pilgrimage, with an estimated 12,000 expected to depart this week and return by its end. In parallel, around 8,000 Iraqi tourists are projected to visit Lebanon, encouraged by airline promotions to fill inbound flights.
Against this backdrop of exceptional pressure on airport facilities, Minister of Public Works and Transport Fayez Rasamny is working in close coordination with Minister of Energy and Water Joe Saddi, and Électricité du Liban to address the outage’s impact and implement lasting solutions to secure a stable and reliable power supply, preventing future incidents.
The Directorate expressed regret for any inconvenience or delays affecting passengers or staff, affirmed its cooperation with relevant authorities to maintain operational stability, and praised travelers’ patience alongside the extraordinary efforts of airport personnel, security forces, and service teams during the challenging hours.