Fadi Al-Hassan, the Head of Rafik Hariri International Airport, confirmed that in the event of an attack on the airport, there is an emergency plan in place that has been recently updated. This plan has been coordinated between airport management and the security forces, which address each scenario individually in case of any emergency within the airport, determining how employees should act.
In an interview with the Lebanese Scene program on Al-Hurra channel, conducted before the recent Israeli threats to strike Lebanon, Al-Hassan noted that strategically it resembles the July 2006 War, during which military airports in Lebanon were utilized when the main airport was bombed.
Regarding the episode titled "Why is There Only One Airport in Lebanon?", Al-Hassan emphasized that the companies operating at the airport are among the world's most important airlines, indicating that they regularly send delegations to Lebanon to audit the general security of the airport. These companies believe that the measures taken ensure the continuity of their operations at Beirut International Airport.
Al-Hassan observed that if these global companies had any doubts or concerns, even by 1%, about the airport, or if it was previously claimed there were missiles or weapons within, nothing would compel them to continue their flights to and from it. He also confirmed that as part of the operational procedures of each foreign airline, delegations are sent annually to verify the measures in place, particularly concerning departing passengers and goods leaving Lebanon.
He pointed out that the British Transport Ministry visits Rafik Hariri Airport every year to conduct a security audit, especially since Middle East Airlines (MEA) operates daily flights to London, and there is ongoing cooperation and mutual visits between them. If there were any lack of complete trust in Rafik Hariri International Airport, there would have been security observations from Britain.
Al-Hassan questioned why no foreign airline has raised concerns to us as an airport authority about any issues, stating that on the contrary, 90% of these airlines receive cargo from Lebanon. He promised new facilities and improvements that travelers will notice from now until next summer at Rafik Hariri International Airport.
