AMMAN -- All flights in and out of Beirut's Rafiq Hariri International Airport are required to first stop in Jordan for security checks, aviation sources here confirmed on Monday.
This measure follows Lebanon's national carrier Middle East Airlines' (MEA) announcement on Monday that it has resumed flights to all international destinations.
Royal Jordanian and MEA are currently the only carriers flying to Beirut.
Director of the Jordan Civil Aviation Authority Captain Suleiman Obeidat told The Jordan Times the secondary inspection is conducted by an airport security unit and is in line with the international security inspection codes followed by airports worldwide.
According to Reuters, the carrier said it would be routed through Amman where passengers would stay on board for a transit time "not exceeding 50 minutes."
Obeidat told the Jordan News Agency, Petra, on Monday the decision of MEA to operate flights to all destinations from Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) came in line with preparations for partially reopening Beirut's airport.
No reason has been given for the secondary inspection but a senior industry source told Reuters the enforced stop in Amman was a condition set by Israel, which is determined to stop Hizbollah guerrillas from rearming after a UN-backed truce took effect a week ago.
"They say it's for security checks. It's not an acceptable reason. It's part of the pressure that is being put on Lebanon by Israel," the source told Reuters, who asked not to be named.
"It's absurd. I don't think Hizbollah is going to smuggle weapons or hostages or part of their leadership on a commercial flight," the source added.
By Stephanie Tournear
© Jordan Times 2006
