Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport
Airport in Lebanon / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport (Arabic: مطار رفيق الحريري الدولي بيروت, (previously known as Beirut International Airport) (IATA: BEY, ICAO: OLBA) is the only operational commercial airport in Lebanon. It is located in the Southern Suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) from the city center. The airport is the hub for Lebanon's national carrier, Middle East Airlines (MEA) and was the hub for the Lebanese cargo carrier TMA cargo and Wings of Lebanon before their respective collapses.
Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport مطار رفيق الحريري الدولي بيروت | |||||||||||||||||||
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Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||||||
Owner/Operator | Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) | ||||||||||||||||||
Serves | Beirut, Lebanon | ||||||||||||||||||
Hub for | Middle East Airlines | ||||||||||||||||||
Elevation AMSL | 27 m / 87 ft | ||||||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 33°49′16″N 035°29′18″E | ||||||||||||||||||
Website | www.beirutairport.gov.lb | ||||||||||||||||||
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The airport was named after former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri in 2005, following his assassination earlier that year.
It is the main port of entry into the country along with the Port of Beirut. The airport is managed and operated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which operates within the Ministry of Public Works and Transport. The DGCA is also responsible for operating the air traffic control (ATC) at the airport as well as controlling Lebanon's airspace. DGCA duties include maintenance and general upkeep ranging from cleaning the terminal to de-rubberising the runways.
The airport has been alleged to be used by Hezbollah for storing large quantities of Iranian weapons.