"Beirut"

Airlines have been cancelling flights out of Beirut & Tel Aviv amid the continued tensions in the region.

Furthermore, this comes at the same time that global governments are encouraging nationals to leave Lebanon.

Below is what we know on this so far…

Which Airlines Have Cancelled Flights out of Beirut & Tel Aviv?

A lot of airlines have been cancelling flights out Beirut and Tel Aviv.

The likes of Aegean, LOT, ITA Airways, KLM, Wizz Air and Qatar Airways are amongst the list of airlines cancelling flights.

Moreover, we can expect to see more flights cancelled out of Beirut over the next few days.

Also, this comes following global governments issuing advice to their nationals to leave while you still can.

In the UK, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the following on this:

“Tensions are high, and the situation could deteriorate rapidly.”

“While we are working round the clock to strengthen our consular presence in Lebanon, my message to British nationals there is clear – leave now.”

“A widening of this conflict is in nobody’s interest – the consequences could be catastrophic.”

“That’s why we continue to call for de-escalation and a diplomatic solution.”

Israel is expecting potential attacks by Iran and it’s regional proxies in Lebanon, which is why flights to and from Beirut & Tel Aviv have been cancelled.

Furthermore, there will now be an exodus of passengers expected out of these airports to get away to safety.

Additional Updates…

This continues to remain a developing story.

Furthermore, additional updates will be inserted at the bottom of this article as it comes in.

More to follow soon!

UPDATE #1 @ 2142 UK time – It is understood Arkia has cancelled flights from Tel Aviv & Eilat in the wake of tonight’s tensions in the region. 

UPDATE #2 @ 2204 UK time – Amid previous reports, Qatar Airways has confirmed no flights to or from Amman, Beirut & Baghdad have been cancelled.

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Dubai-based carrier flydubai has celebrated 15 years of flight services in Beirut. The airline has marked the occasion with the rollout of an aircraft in a special commemorative livery.

Their Boeing 737-8 MAX reg. A6-FPC received a special livery makeover to commemorate the achievement.

This milestone highlights a continuing journey of growth and commitment to fostering regional connectivity.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of flydubai, expressed his appreciation on the occasion of the Beirut anniversary.

“On this momentous occasion, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the entire flydubai team for their unwavering dedication since our inaugural flight to Beirut in June 2009.”

“Inspired by Dubai’s ambition and success, flydubai has flourished under the visionary leadership of the UAE. This vision has empowered us to adapt and expand, continually meeting evolving market needs while strengthening trade and tourism ties.”

Flydubai Makes its Mark

flydubai has carved a niche as a key player in the UAE’s and the region’s aviation industry. Through its journey so far, it has significantly contributed to Dubai’s socio-economic development.

Looking ahead, with unwavering confidence, the airline aligns itself with the Dubai Government’s vision 2030. This seeks to solidify Dubai’s position as a premier global aviation hub.

From its Dubai hub, flydubai boasts an impressive network spanning over 125 destinations. The network is served by a modern fleet of 87 aircraft.

Since its inception in 2009, flydubai has remained steadfast in its mission to dismantle travel barriers, facilitating seamless trade and tourism flows, and fostering cultural connections across its ever-growing network.

Celebrating 15 Years of Milestones

flydubai’s journey over the past decade and a half has punctuated by several remarkable achievements:

Network Expansion

A network encompassing over 125 destinations across 58 countries, including Africa, Central Asia, the Caucasus, Central and South-East Europe, the GCC, the Middle East, the Indian Subcontinent, and Southeast Asia.

Championing Underserved Markets

Pioneering over 90 new routes, previously lacking direct air links to Dubai or service by a UAE national carrier.

Efficiency Through Fleet Standardization

Operating a single, efficient fleet of 87 Boeing 737 aircraft, including 29 Next-Generation Boeing 737-800s, 55 Boeing 737 MAX 8s, and 3 Boeing 737 MAX 9s.

Connecting Millions

Transporting over 100 million passengers since its launch in 2009, fostering global connectivity.

flydubai: Connecting the World from Dubai

With a strong commitment to regional connectivity, flydubai boasts an extensive network reaching over 125 destinations across Africa, Asia, and Europe.

As the carrier continues to move from strength to strength, here’s a summary of just what makes flydubai stand out:

• Focus on Affordability and Accessibility: Known for its budget-friendly fares, flydubai has opened up new travel opportunities for many passengers.
• Championing Underserved Routes: The airline takes pride in pioneering new routes, particularly to destinations previously lacking direct connections to Dubai.
• Modern and Efficient Fleet: Flydubai operates a single fleet type of Boeing 737 aircraft, ensuring operational efficiency and a consistent travel experience.
• Commitment to Growth: Since its launch in 2009, flydubai has consistently expanded its network and passenger base, solidifying its position as a major player in the region’s aviation industry.

Overall, flydubai’s dedication to affordability and fostering connections has made it a popular choice for both leisure and business travelers.

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Middle East Airlines (MEA) has evacuated aircraft from Beirut, Lebanon and have sent them to Istanbul as a security precaution caused by the ongoing conflict in Israel.

It is understood that the airline is sending a total of five aircraft, consisting of four Airbus A321neos and one Airbus A330 to the Turkish airport.

Without further ado, let’s get into it…

MEA Evacuates Aircraft From Beirut: Parked in Istanbul…

As per data from Planespotters.net, it appears that at the time of writing (16/10/23 @ 2025 UK time), MEA have evacuated four of the proposed five aircraft from Beirut to Lebanon. They are as follows:

• T7-ME3 – Airbus A321neo – Parked October 15.
• T7-ME4 – Airbus A321neo – Parked October 13.
• T7-ME5 – Airbus A321neo – Parked October 15.
• OD-MEB – Airbus A330-200 – Parked October 13.

It is currently unclear which Airbus A321neo will be the fifth and final aircraft from the carrier, but the list of remaining jets to be sent to Istanbul is as follows:

• T7-ME1
• T7-ME2
• T7-ME6
• T7-ME7
• T7-ME8
• T7-ME9

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ADS-B data has been spotty in the region since the conflict in Israel began. We have data, courtesy of RadarBox.com for T7-ME4 & OD-MEB, which you will see below.

T7-ME4 departed Beirut as MEA1263 on Friday October 13 at 1625 local time, and proceeded north to the Turkish airport, landing there at 1807 local time.

OD-MEB, the only Airbus A330 to be stored in Istanbul so far for this, departed from the Lebanon capital three minutes before T7-ME4 did, and arrived at 1801 local time that day.

This remains a developing story. As soon as we ascertain the fifth aircraft to be evacuated, then we will update the article accordingly.

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flydubai, the Dubai-based carrier, has continued its high flight in 2024, experiencing consistent passenger growth and significant network expansion.

Since the year’s beginning, they’ve transported nearly five million passengers, marking a 13% increase compared to the same period in 2023.

Network Expansion Continues

Flydubai continues to bridge continents, adding new destinations to its ever-growing network. 2024 saw the commencement of operations to Al Jouf, Langkawi, Mombasa, Penang, and The Red Sea.

Additionally, European expansion continues with upcoming flights to Basel, Riga, Tallinn, and Vilnius.

This dedication to network development has resulted in a vast network spanning over 125 destinations in 58 countries.

Notably, more than 90 of these routes offer previously unavailable direct connections from Dubai, both for the city itself and for other UAE national carriers.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai, expressed his enthusiasm. “We are thrilled to witness the continuous expansion of our network, particularly in Southeast Asia with the addition of Malaysia, alongside ongoing growth in the African and European markets.”

“This increased capacity has attracted more passengers in 2024, despite some dampening effects from ongoing aircraft delivery delays. We remain on track for a record-breaking summer with the launch of our seasonal schedule in June.”

“Our immediate focus is on an ambitious fleet retrofit project to elevate and standardize the onboard experience for our valued customers.”

Fleet Growth and Investment

Flydubai’s fleet has grown in 2024 with the addition of two new aircraft. They now boast 86 Boeing 737 aircraft serving their expanding network.

Despite supply chain challenges affecting delivery schedules, six more aircraft are expected by year-end.

The carrier currently operates a fleet consisting of 29 Next-Generation Boeing 737-800s, 54 Boeing 737 MAX 8s, and 3 Boeing 737 MAX 9s.

To enhance passenger comfort, they’ve embarked on a multi-million dollar project that will see a complete cabin refresh for most of their Next-Generation Boeing fleet.

This project involves installing flydubai’s signature lie-flat Business Class seats and the new RECARO economy seats, mirroring the superior cabin product found on their newer aircraft.

All retrofitted aircraft will receive Inflight Entertainment Systems, ensuring a consistent travel experience across the fleet.

Notably, some aircraft will retain an all-economy configuration, featuring upgraded RECARO economy seats with Inflight Entertainment.

Further elevating the onboard experience, flydubai plans to increase the seat pitch on their recliner Business Class product on select newer aircraft, from 45 inches to 53 inches.

This initiative, designed for short-to-medium haul flights within the region, will be rolled out after the summer season.

The ambitious retrofit program, aiming for completion by year-end, is being jointly executed by flydubai’s in-house maintenance team and GMR Aerotech MRO.

Strong Passenger Performance

The impressive 13% passenger growth from January to April 2024 is a testament to flydubai’s strong performance. This growth is attributed to the increased capacity across their network.

Flydubai’s network expansion is truly remarkable. They’ve built a vast network of over 125 destinations in 58 countries, with more than 90 routes offering previously unavailable direct connections from Dubai.

The carrier is further bolstering capacity across various markets, with service frequencies returning to pre-pandemic levels in the GCC region.

Here are some specific examples of increased frequency:

• Colombo: 28 flights per week (up from 21)
• Doha: 42 flights per week (up from 21)
• Krakow: 10 flights per week (previously daily)
• Milan: Daily service (previously five-weekly), with double daily service planned for peak summer
• Salalah: 14 flights per week (previously daily during peak summer)
• Beirut: 21 flights per week (previously double daily during peak summer)

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Jazeera Airways faced some currency headwinds in the first quarter (Q1) of 2024, but overall, the airline delivered a resilient performance.

While a net loss of KD 2.7 million was reported, this can be largely attributed to foreign currency fluctuations of KD 2.5 million.

Looking beyond this impact, Jazeera Airways achieved operational breakeven, demonstrating the airline’s ability to manage costs effectively.

This focus on cost control is even more impressive considering a slight decrease in total group revenue compared to Q1 2023 (KD 46.4 million vs. KD 48.3 million).

However, a positive takeaway is the significant 18.3% increase in revenue compared to the previous quarter (Q4 2023).

Passenger Growth and Market Gains: A Positive Trajectory

Passenger numbers continued their upward trend for Jazeera Airways. The airline welcomed 1.2 million passengers in Q1 2024, reflecting a healthy 4.2% year-over-year (YoY) growth.

This positive trend also extends to the previous quarter, with a marginal 0.7% increase in passengers compared to Q4 2023.

This consistent growth demonstrates Jazeera Airways’ appeal to travelers and its ability to capture market share.

Speaking of market share, Jazeera Airways further solidified its position. The airline’s network market share climbed from 36.1% in Q1 2023 to 37.3% in Q1 2024. This growth indicates Jazeera Airways’ increasing dominance within its operating region.

Maintaining Operational Efficiency

Jazeera Airways maintained a strong load factor of 79.3% in Q1 2024. While slightly lower than the previous year’s Q1 figure, it remains a healthy indicator of efficient capacity utilization.

Even more encouraging is the significant improvement of 3.5% compared to Q4 2023. This upward trend suggests Jazeera Airways is optimizing its flight schedules to meet passenger demand.

Financial Highlights at a Glance

The following table summarizes key financial metrics for Jazeera Airways in Q1 2024, along with comparisons to the previous year and quarter:

New Leadership and Summer Expansion

The arrival of Barathan Pasupathi (Bara) as the new CEO in Q1 2024 signifies a fresh chapter for Jazeera Airways. Bara, a seasoned aviation and finance professional, brings valuable experience that will undoubtedly contribute to the airline’s continued success.

Furthermore, Jazeera Airways has exciting developments planned for the summer season. Passengers can look forward to direct flights to Batumi, Georgia, starting June 14th, 2024.

Additionally, the airline will resume operations to popular destinations like Antalya, Beirut, and Prague.

This expansion will strengthen Jazeera Airways’ network, offering travelers access to close to 63 destinations across the Middle East, Central and South Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Summary

Jazeera Airways remains committed to achieving both financial and operational growth. This focus is evident in the airline’s ongoing efforts to improve its products and services.

Passengers can expect to see continued enhancements at Kuwait International Airport Jazeera Terminal 5, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable travel experience.

With a focus on cost control, a growing passenger base, and strategic network expansion plans, the carrier is well-positioned to navigate the remainder of 2024 and emerge even stronger.

Jazeera Airways operates commercial and cargo flights out of its Jazeera Terminal T5 at Kuwait International Airport.

The airline flies to 63 popular destinations across the Middle East, Central and South Asia, Africa and Europe comprising high-demand business, leisure, religious and weekend destinations.

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