Beirut Airport Head Says Security not 'Exposed', French Ambassador No Flights Cancelled

Head of the Beirut airport Fadi al-Hassan assured on Sunday that the security at the Rafic Hariri International Airport is not vulnerable as circulated in media reports stressing that the facility is still up to the international safety standards.

“The security at Beirut airport is not exposed and we are still within the international standards. Reports that were circulated in the media were only minor issues dealing with the equipment that need updating,” al-Hassan told pan-Arab al-Hayat daily.

He explained that “one of the issues raised by the technical committee of the British Airways and Air France is related to the unity of coordination between departments, and the second addresses the need to increase the staff of the security apparatus in addition to matters linked to technical safety.”

His comments follow reports published lately by British Airways and Air France about the administrative, technical and security course of action at the airport stirring concerns about its conformity with the international aviation safety standards.

It also said that France and Britain are considering boycotting Beirut's RHIA due to safety concerns.

Furthermore, European, Arab and Gulf airlines had earlier informed the airport's administration of threats received that can affect the safety of its aircraft in various countries and not specifically in Beirut, prompting the facility's management to take additional safety measures, according to Hassan.

Hassan added that in light of the said concerns, Air France “was comfortable with the response of relevant authorities to maintain safety at the airport.”

For his part, French ambassador to Lebanon Emmanuel Bonne told al-Hayat: “It is impossible to cancel our flights to Beirut airport.”

He asserted that “the authorities in charge of maintaining the terminal's security have responded to our concerns. We are working with Lebanese officials to ensure that the trips to France are in accordance with the corresponding safety conditions.”

Late last year, the European Union sent a memo to the government informing it of a decision to stop transporting goods from Beirut airport after Lebanon failed to meet EU standards for air transportation safety.

British Airways became the first to implement the EU's decision and banned cargo flights from Beirut on March 1.