Number of Airport Passengers Up 10.38% Annually YTD by September 2025
The cumulative activity at Rafic Hariri International Airport rose by 10.38% year-on-year (YoY) during the first nine months of 2025 to 5,406,264 travelers. This increase was mainly driven by a 14.63% cumulative YoY increase in arrivals, which totaled 2,767,428. The rise in airport activity reflects a normalization in travel patterns following last year’s disruption. While tourism typically peaks during this period, the significant annual increase is largely driven by a low base effect, as passenger traffic in 2024 was hit by the Israeli-Hezbollah war. Nevertheless, cumulative traffic by Q3 2025 remains below the 2023 level (5,781,079), highlighting the incomplete recovery. This may be partly explained by ongoing Israeli strikes on Lebanon, which—despite being largely confined to the South and Beqaa—continue to weigh on travel sentiment.
On a monthly basis, airport passengers’ activity dropped by 26.56% in September 2025 to 682,437, a trend that likely reflects the end of the summer season as tourists and expatriates began returning to their countries of residence.
Annual YTD Passengers Activity:
Monthly and YoY Passengers Activity:
Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport YTD Activity by September (2021-2025):
Source: Rafic Hariri International Airport, BLOMINVEST Bank
