Public Works Minister in the caretaker government Ali Hamieh announced that "the number of departing passengers yesterday reached around 17,000, while the number of arriving passengers sometimes approaches around 21,000, and we are now talking about an average of about 36,000 passengers per day." Hamieh's statement came after a meeting at the Serail chaired by caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati to discuss the situation at Rafic Hariri International Airport. He clarified that "an evaluative meeting was held today in the presence of the Ministers of Interior and Tourism, the Director General of General Security, the Director General of Middle East Airlines, and the Director General of Civil Aviation. The discussions began at the arrivals station where a decision was made by General Security to assign 12 personnel for guidance and direction before passport checks to ensure the process runs smoothly, saving time and speeding up the passport checks so that it does not take more than one-third to half an hour."
He indicated that "General Security will maintain the technical supplies and computers at the counters to utilize all arrival and departure counters," adding: "As for the belts, there are practically no issues; however, there are problems with the number of baggage trolleys, and this issue was discussed, with Middle East Airlines communicating with 'Miz' to increase the number of trolleys." Regarding customs, he said: "Two lanes will be secured for arrivals to ease the pressure on customs, and the Prime Minister has communicated with the Director General of Customs, and there is an agreement to establish two lanes to reduce congestion." Concerning the airport's air conditioning, he stated: "We have taken precautionary measures and secured an additional generator to operate the air conditioning units." In response to a question about the lack of allocated additional funds for airport employees to ensure smooth operations, Hamieh noted that "airport revenues are approximately $250 million 'cash', but we are a public administration, and all revenues are transferred to the public treasury to cover the budget deficit, public sector salaries, retirees, military and civilian personnel, and the general administration, with some funds going to Electricité du Liban."
Minister of Tourism Walid Nassar announced that "this is the third meeting dedicated to Beirut Airport, and God willing, citizens and visitors to Lebanon will notice the difference due to the measures taken. Of course, we want to compare ourselves to airports worldwide; congestion is a positive matter and a good indicator for Lebanon, and I hope, as Minister Hamieh said, citizens will feel the difference and there will be an improvement in organizational matters at the airport."
General Labor Union President Bishara Asmar stated after his meeting with Mikati that "our meeting today with Mikati focused on discussing the conditions of workers in public institutions, independent agencies, government hospitals, municipalities, TeleLiban, Ogero, and the grain silos at Beirut Airport to ensure their rights, especially concerning the transportation allowance decree of 450,000 Lebanese pounds for daily attendance." He added: "We also discussed the entitlements of these institutions, whether from government hospitals or municipalities, which are suffering from a massive shortfall and cannot provide even the minimum requirements, including salaries. This is a catastrophic situation that we hope to find quick solutions to. Mikati promised us good outcomes, and I reiterate that the situation in hospitals, Ogero, and some independent agencies needs urgent attention, and TeleLiban also has entitlements amounting to nearly 20 billion Lebanese pounds. The government must immediately take action to pay these entitlements, otherwise, these institutions are on the verge of descending further into decline."
Baqai'sfarin Municipality President Bilal Zoud mentioned after his meeting with Mikati that "the meeting revolved around the dispute over the Qornet al-Sawda with the town of Bsharri, and I updated him on the current situation."
