Event: Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut is closed for commercial passenger flights until at least April 12. U.S. Embassy Beirut has arranged for Qatar Airways to offer a special chartered flight for U.S. citizens and U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents to depart Beirut at 1:30 a.m. on April 5. Travelers may choose between connecting flights through Doha to Miami or Dallas/Fort Worth.
Please note that the Embassy has no plan to arrange additional flights during the airport closure.
Travelers should purchase tickets on a first come-first served basis directly from the airline online at www.qatarairways.com or at the Qatar Airways Downtown Beirut Office, Minah El Hosn, Garden View Building – Block A, Ahmad Chawki Street, between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. April 2-3 (Telephone 01-763100). Cost is $2,500 per person to either U.S. destination. Seats are limited, so travelers are advised to book as soon as possible. After purchasing tickets, travelers are asked to send their flight confirmation data to BeirutACS@state.gov by Friday, April 3. The Embassy will provide additional procedural instructions regarding travel to the airport.
U.S. citizens who have already sent an email and received flight information need not do so again. U.S. citizens stranded in Lebanon because of the airport closure and who lack or cannot access funds may write to BeirutACS@state.gov to inquire about the possibility of a loan to cover the ticket costs.
All non-emergency U.S. Embassy personnel have departed Lebanon. Routine consular operations remain suspended. The Consular Section is staffed to provide limited emergency services to U.S. citizens on a case-by-case basis. U.S. citizens with emergencies may contact BeirutACS@state.gov.
The Department of State has issued a Global Level 4 Health Advisory for COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 2 Global COVID-19 Outbreak Notice and a Level 3 Warning for COVID-19 in Europe advising travelers to avoid non-essential travel to Europe.
Actions to Take:
- Monitor local media and our Embassy website for COVID-19 updates
- Have departure plans that do not rely on U.S. government assistance
- Follow the advice of the CDC that you can find at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
- Monitor the Department of State’s COVID-19 website at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/covid-19-information.html
- Review the complete Travel Advisory for Lebanon
- Read what the U.S. Governmen tCan & Can’t Do in a Crisis
Assistance:
- U.S. Embassy Beirut, Lebanon
Awkar – Facing the Municipality, Main Street
Beirut, Lebanon
+961-4-542600 or +961-4-543600
BeirutACS@state.gov
https://lb.usembassy.gov/ - U.S. Department of State – Consular Affairs
+1-888-407-4747 or +1-202-501-4444
For further detailed information regarding travel and security in Lebanon:
- Visit the State Department’s travel website Travel.State.Govto review the Lebanon Travel Advisory, Country-Specific Information for Lebanon, and the Worldwide Caution.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)to receive the latest security updates and make it easier for the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate to contact you in an emergency.
- Follow the U.S. Embassy in Beirut on Twitter and Facebook
