Lagatar24 Desk
Paris: Air France announced on Tuesday that it is extending the suspension of its flights to Beirut, as well as those of its low-cost subsidiary, Transavia, through at least Thursday. The decision comes amid concerns that the ongoing Gaza conflict could escalate further.
The suspension of flights, which has been in place since July 29, will be reviewed based on new assessments of the security situation in Lebanon’s capital. The airlines initially halted their services following Israeli retaliation for rocket fire from Lebanon that resulted in 12 casualties in the Golan Heights.
Regional tensions have intensified over the past week, with Iran and its allies pledging retaliation for the recent high-profile assassinations of Hezbollah’s top military commander Fuad Shukr in Lebanon and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran. Both killings have been attributed to Israel.
Hezbollah has been engaged in frequent cross-border exchanges of fire with Israeli forces. In response to the volatile situation, Air France has emphasized its commitment to ensuring the safety of its passengers and crew, stating that it continuously monitors geopolitical developments to maintain flight safety.
The airline has offered customers with bookings for flights to or from Beirut before and including August 18 the option to reschedule or cancel their trips free of charge. German carrier Lufthansa has also suspended flights to Beirut, Tehran, and Tel Aviv until August 12. However, Air France’s flights to and from Tel Aviv continue to operate as scheduled.
