Number of Airport Passengers Up 16.87% Annually YTD by October 2025
The cumulative activity at Rafic Hariri International Airport rose by 16.87% year-on-year (YoY) to 5,949,999 travelers. This annual improvement is largely driven by the exceptionally low base of October 2024, when the war in Lebanon was at its peak. During that period, Israeli strikes were widespread across multiple regions, leading most international airlines to suspend operations entirely. As a result, only Middle Eastern carriers continued operating, and even their flights were limited, sharply reducing arrivals and departures.
With the security situation in 2025 becoming relatively more contained – strikes now concentrated mainly in the South and parts of the Beqaa – airlines gradually resumed service, supporting higher annual airport traffic. This rebound is also reflected in Total Arrivals, which increased by 23.43% YoY, and Total Departures, which rose by 10.86% YoY. Transit passengers, however, declined by 49.63%, as Lebanon continues to function less as a regional transit hub compared to major Gulf hubs.
On a monthly basis, airport passengers’ activity reached 543,735 passengers in October 2025, down 20.32% MoM, reflecting the usual post-summer seasonal slowdown. However, on an annual basis, activity surged by 181.30% YoY, again due to the extremely depressed travel levels recorded in October 2024 during the peak of the conflict.
Monthly Arrivals increased by 541.80% YoY, and Departures grew by 84.16% YoY, underscoring the contrast between last year’s wartime flight suspensions and this year’s partial normalization of air operations. Transit passengers also rose 207.78% YoY, though from a very low base.
Annual YTD Passengers Activity:
Monthly and YoY Passengers Activity:
Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport YTD Activity by October 2025:
Source: Rafic Hariri International Airport, BLOMINVEST
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