Qatar Airways resuming Beirut flights despite blockade

DOHA - Qatar Airways will resume direct flights to and from Lebanon's capital Beirut on Monday despite an Israeli air and sea blockade imposed on the country in July, an airline spokeswoman said on Sunday local time.

"We will operate daily flights to Beirut tomorrow. Flight 422 will leave Doha at 12.30pm local time and arrive at 3.35pm Beirut time," Salam al-Shawa said.

Asked if the airline had contacted Israeli authorities before deciding to fly directly to Beirut, Shawa said: "We were in touch with the Lebanese authorities and we received approval from them to fly directly to Beirut."

She said it would be the first direct flight to Beirut by any airline since the blockade.

Lebanese Transport Minister Mohammed Safadi told reporters the government favoured opening Beirut airport to any planes willing to ignore Israeli restrictions.

"The position of the prime minister [Fouad Siniora] and my position too is that Beirut international airport be ready to receive any planes that want to break the air blockade," he said after a meeting with the speaker of parliament.

Israel has kept an air and sea embargo on Lebanon since its 34-day war with Lebanon's Hizbollah ended on August 14. Israel says the blockade was aimed at preventing Hizbollah rearming.

Last month, it allowed Lebanon's Middle East Airlines and Royal Jordanian to fly to Beirut on condition that all flights pass through Amman first for security reasons.

All ships and aircraft require Israeli permission to use Lebanese waters and airspace.

- REUTERS