The suspension of Air France and its subsidiary Transavia France flights to Beirut has been extended again until Wednesday due to the geopolitical situation in Lebanon, the airlines said on Monday.
The resumption of operations, suspended since July 29 due to the “security situation in Lebanon”, “will depend on a new assessment of the situation on the ground”, Air France said in a statement sent to AFP.
The suspension affects flights between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Beirut, as well as flights to and from Lebanon operated by Transavia France.
“Air France reaffirms that the safety of its customers and crew is its absolute priority,” the airline insisted in the same note.
The carrier also guarantees that customers who have booked flights to/from Beirut scheduled on or before August 18, 2024, will be able to reschedule or cancel their trip free of charge.
Several other airlines have suspended flights to the Lebanese capital amid fears of a military escalation between Israel and the Shiite Hezbollah movement.
On the other hand, Air France continues to operate flights between France and Tel Aviv, while other international groups, such as Italy’s ITA, have suspended their flights to Israel until at least August 15.
The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas was triggered by the Palestinian Islamist group’s unprecedented attack on Israeli soil on October 7, 2023, which, according to Israeli authorities, left around 1,200 people dead and more than 200 hostages taken.
Following the Hamas attack, Israel launched a large-scale offensive in the Gaza Strip that has already resulted in the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, mostly civilians, and a humanitarian catastrophe destabilizing the entire Middle East region.
Fears of a possible military escalation in the Middle East have grown significantly after Iran and its allies stepped up threats against Israel.
Iran, the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah have blamed Israel for the death of Palestinian Islamist leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31.
The killing of the Palestinian leader came just hours after Lebanon’s military leader, Fouad Shukr, was killed in an attack claimed by Israel near Beirut.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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