Air Traffic Controllers Announce Suspension of Night Work Starting August 1st

Air traffic controllers announced that they provide "air navigation services and ensure the safety of air traffic in Lebanese airspace, around civil and military airports in Lebanon, including Rafic Hariri International Airport - Beirut, under international and Lebanese aviation laws and regulations. With the acute and increasing shortage of licensed air traffic controllers with the necessary qualifications to perform air traffic control duties due to some reaching retirement age, a lack of hiring, and the necessary funding to implement the training project for current assistant controllers"… The increasing personnel shortage "due to current circumstances necessitates air traffic controllers to attend and work close to 300 hours monthly to ensure continuous operation for 24 hours a day without interruption, even on Sundays and holidays or during emergencies (for example, during the COVID-19 pandemic or road closures due to protests or others...), which has increased the mental and social pressure on the remaining air traffic controllers who are currently working beyond their capacity to ensure the continuity of the airport and air traffic in Lebanese airspace, depriving them of their right to enjoy their annual administrative leave like other state employees or even from the content of the circulars issued by the Prime Minister regarding the adoption of the principle of rotation in work due to their shortage, and sometimes with no financial compensation as a sacrifice on their part or any financial incentives distinguishing them due to the nature of their duties and responsibilities... This situation has led some to resign or request unpaid leave to emigrate and seek job opportunities that would provide them with fair income... Under the weight of all these combined pressures, air traffic controllers in navigation have given notice to their administration of their suspension of night work and demanded their right to benefit from the principle of rotation." They also announced "the inability to ensure the continuity of work at night (from 8 PM until 6 AM) starting from August 1, 2022, and the necessity to reduce the number of flights during the day in line with the capacity of air traffic controllers and the volume of airspace, which will lead to a complete stop of air navigation services at night during these times."