Number of Airport Passengers Up 22.41% Annually YTD by November 2025
The cumulative activity at Rafic Hariri International Airport rose by 22.41% year-on-year (YoY) to 6,416,954 travelers. This annual improvement is largely driven by the exceptionally low base of November 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 28.72% YoY, and Total Departures, which rose by 16.62% YoY. Transit passengers, however, declined by 42.97%, as Lebanon continues to function less as a regional transit hub compared to major Gulf hubs.
On a monthly basis, airport passengers’ activity reached 466,955 passengers in November 2025, down 14.12% MoM, reflecting the usual post-summer seasonal slowdown. However, on an annual basis, activity surged due to the extremely depressed travel levels recorded in November 2024 during the peak of the conflict. Monthly Arrivals increased by 208.43% YoY, and Departures grew by 208.63% YoY, underscoring the contrast between last year’s wartime flight suspensions and this year’s partial normalization of air operations. Transit passengers expanded dramatically by 2223.08% 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 November 2025:
Source: Rafic Hariri International Airport, BLOMINVEST
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