Zoaiter Says no Israeli Intrusion on New Aviation Routes, as Kuwait Airways Cancels Two Flights

Public Works and Transport Minister Ghazi Zoaiter revealed on Saturday that Lebanon has taken assurances from Cyprus that Israel will not intrude upon Lebanon's new aviation routes, nor will it carry out maneuvers in light of the latest Russian demand to avoid overflying the eastern Mediterranean area.

“Lebanon has taken assurances from Cyprus that Israel will not intrude upon Lebanon's aviation or carry out any maneuvers on the new air routes,” Zoaiter told al-Joumhouria daily on Saturday.

“Rerouting will only bring a limited delay on some airlines,” he added.

Meanwhile, Kuwait Airways has taken a decision to cancel two flights “as a precautionary measure” that were scheduled to land on Saturday at the Rafiq Hariri international Airport in light of the Russian request.

On Friday, Russia, which is carrying out air strikes in Syria has asked the Lebanese authorities that planes leaving Beirut airport towards the west avoid overflying an area in Mediterranean territorial waters because of maneuvers on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

However, the Middle East Airlines, Lebanon's national carrier, said that all of Saturday's flights will take off on time, but some flights to the Arab Gulf countries and the Middle East will spend more time in the air due to the new air routes.

Lebanese Ambassador to Cyprus Youssef Sadaqa said that negotiations between MEA's office in Cyprus and the Cypriot civil aviation directorate agreed on "a secure air route for Lebanese flights over the southern region of the Mediterranean."

Lebanon's Directorate General of Civil Aviation reassured that "flight operations at Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport will not be interrupted."

Rather than departing towards the west, or approaching from that direction, flights would be directed to first fly south above Sidon and Sarafand to "keep them away from the perimeter of the maneuvers," he said.