Number of Airport Passengers Down 32.84% Annually YTD by April 2026

The cumulative activity at Rafic Hariri International Airport declined by 32.84% year-on-year to 1,242,700 travelers in April 2026, reflecting deterioration in air traffic conditions compared to the previous year. Total arrivals reached 566,296, down by 41.12% year-on-year, similarly departures fell to 676,382, down by 23.83% year-on-year. Meanwhile, transit passengers reached 1,441, up by 198.34%, marking a notable increase compared to the previous year, albeit from a low base.

This overall decline comes as April 2026 was heavily impacted by the escalation of conflict following the outbreak of war between Israel and Hezbollah at the end of February, which disrupted travel flows and weighed on inbound activity. Although a “semi-ceasefire” was announced on April 17^th, continued breaches and security tensions, particularly in South Lebanon, continued to weight on passenger traffic and travel confidence.

Airport activity contracted sharply in April 2026, with total passengers falling to 151,381, down by 74.57% compared to April 2025. This drop was mainly driven by a steep decline in arrivals, which fell to 72,454, marking a 74.42% decrease, alongside a significant contraction in departures to 78,909, down by 74.70%. Transit passengers also decreased to 18, reflecting a sharp year-on-year drop of 81.63%, albeit from a low base.

On a monthly basis, airport passenger traffic increased by 8.80% in April 2026, supported mainly by a significant 47.88% rise in arrivals, while departures fell by 12.46%. The increase in inbound activity may be partly attributed to the Easter holiday period during the month, which likely encouraged Lebanese expatriates and visitors to return to the country despite the fragile security situation. Meanwhile, the decline in departures could suggest that many residents had already left the country during the earlier escalation of conflict following the outbreak of war at the end of February. 

Annual YTD Passengers Activity:

Monthly and YoY Passengers Activity:

Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport YTD Activity by April 202

_{Source: Rafic Hariri International Airport, BLOMINVEST}