Fayez Rasamny, Qatar move forward with Beirut airport development grant
Public Works Minister Fayez Rasamny received air navigation and communication equipment from Qatar’s Ministry of Transport, in a step reflecting Doha’s continued support for Lebanon and aimed at strengthening operational capabilities at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport.
The handover took place during a press conference in the airport’s departures hall, attended by Qatari Ambassador Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Keith Hennigan, Civil Aviation Regulatory Authority president Captain Mohammad Aziz, airport chief Ibrahim Abou Aliwe, MEA Airport Services executive director Mohammad Shatila, Airport Security chief Brigadier General Fadi Kfoury, ISF airport company commander Brigadier General Ezzat Khatib, General Security airport department head Colonel Georges Dagher, Air Navigation Department head Kamal Nassereddine, and heads of airport units and departments.
The Qatari ambassador said the grant, consisting of navigation equipment for Beirut airport, reflects the depth of brotherly relations between Qatar and Lebanon and Doha’s firm commitment to supporting Lebanon across various sectors.
The Qatari diplomat added that his country would continue standing by Lebanon during difficult circumstances by supporting vital state institutions, including Beirut airport, in order to enhance its operational capacity and services. He thanked Rasamny and airport personnel for their efforts in serving the facility.
In turn, Rasamny opened his remarks by saluting journalists and airport staff who continued performing their duties despite war and difficult conditions. He paid special tribute to air traffic controllers, saying they handled sensitive responsibilities during airstrikes and military flights over Lebanese airspace to ensure the safety of civilian takeoffs and landings.
Rasamny also thanked Middle East Airlines and its chairman Mohammad El-Hout, saying the company’s decision to maintain flights during the war kept Lebanon connected to the outside world.
Moreover, Rasamny said Qatar deserved repeated thanks because it had never delayed assistance to Lebanon, particularly during the current economic hardship. He said the burden had grown with the displacement crisis, while vital facilities, led by the airport, remained essential arteries that could not stop operating.
The Public Works Minister also revealed continuous coordination with the U.S. Embassy to shield Beirut airport, the airport road and vital ports from threats, stressing that keeping these facilities running was an economic and national necessity.
Rasamny announced that the airport would soon open the eastern departure gate, alongside a series of development projects, adding that a new airport project would be inaugurated every three months.
For his part, Captain Mohammad Aziz said the new equipment would help upgrade the air navigation department and improve its operational efficiency, stressing that airport work was proceeding normally despite Lebanon’s challenges.
