Trump Lifts Four Restrictions On Flights To And From Lebanon
US President Donald Trump has revoked four presidential orders that formed the basis of US restrictions on air transportation to and from Lebanon, paving the way for direct flights between the two countries to resume.
Under Presidential Order No. 2026-25, signed on September 30, 2026, and published in the Federal Register on October 5, the orders issued in 1985, 1992, 1998 and 2007 were fully revoked.
Trump determined that these restrictions were no longer necessary to protect aircraft traveling to or from Lebanon against unlawful seizure. He directed the Secretary of Transportation to implement the decision immediately and revoke any regulations or orders that conflict with it.
The decision removes the presidential basis for these restrictions, but it does not mean that flights will resume automatically, nor does it constitute confirmation that all necessary operational and security approvals have been completed. It also does not specify an airline, route or launch date.
The Lebanese Embassy in Washington welcomed the US presidential decision to lift restrictions on air travel between Lebanon and the United States, saying it paves the way for direct flights between the two countries to resume in the future.
The embassy said: This decision follows President Trump’s announcement after his meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House on July 21, 2026, and the subsequent meeting between Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on September 28, 2026.
This important step is the result of sustained efforts by the US Embassy in Beirut, the Lebanese Embassy in Washington, and Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Works and Transport.
The decision also reflects confidence in the security measures adopted by the Lebanese authorities and represents an important first step toward restoring direct flights between Lebanon and the United States.
The Lebanese Embassy extends its sincere thanks and appreciation to President Trump and the US administration for this decision, which reflects the historic friendship and close ties between Lebanon and the United States and their peoples.
The eventual resumption of direct flights between Lebanon and the United States would strengthen connections between Lebanon and the large Lebanese community in the United States, deepen ties between the two peoples, and open new opportunities for tourism, trade, investment and exchanges between the two countries.
