Rafic Hariri International Airport

Current Status

Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport continues to operate as Lebanon's sole commercial airport, but under significantly degraded navigation conditions. Since 2023, GPS signals on approach to BEY have been completely unreliable, with spoofing from multiple sources rendering GNSS-dependent procedures unusable. The airport sits at the epicenter of the Eastern Mediterranean spoofing corridor, where conflicting interference signals from different state actors create an unpredictable navigation environment.

EASA has issued specific guidance regarding operations into Beirut, and Lebanon's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) maintains active NOTAMs warning of GNSS unreliability. All approaches are conducted using ILS, and carriers without adequate IRS backup capability have reconsidered service.

Key Risks

• GPS completely unreliable. Unlike airports that experience intermittent spoofing, BEY faces continuous GNSS degradation. Aircraft on approach receive false position data from multiple competing spoofing sources, making GPS worse than merely unavailable — it actively provides incorrect information. EUROCONTROL has documented Beirut approaches as among the most affected globally.
• Multi-source interference. The spoofing affecting BEY originates from multiple regional actors, creating a layered and unpredictable interference pattern. This distinguishes Beirut from single-source spoofing environments, as the character and intensity of interference can change without warning.
• Mediterranean flight path disruption. Routes over the Eastern Mediterranean approaching BEY from Europe are affected well before reaching Lebanese airspace. Aircraft transiting the Nicosia FIR frequently report position anomalies, requiring early transition to IRS navigation.
• False GPWS alerts. Spoofed altitude and position data has triggered Ground Proximity Warning System alerts on approach to BEY. EASA Safety Information Bulletins have specifically addressed the risk of pilots receiving false terrain alerts during otherwise normal approaches.
• Regional instability. Lebanon's proximity to ongoing conflicts has periodically affected airport operations. Temporary closures and flight path restrictions have occurred during regional military escalations, though the airport has demonstrated resilience in maintaining operations when possible.

Recent Events

Airlines Operating

Middle East Airlines (MEA), Lebanon's national carrier, maintains full service as the airport's largest operator. Gulf carriers including Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Gulf Air continue operating into BEY with crews trained for GNSS-denied approaches. Turkish Airlines and several European carriers maintain service, though some at reduced frequency.

Carriers that have suspended or reduced BEY service generally cite the navigation environment combined with regional security considerations. Insurance costs for Lebanon operations have increased, though the airport's continued functionality has prevented the level of carrier withdrawal seen at some regional airports.

Approach & Navigation

All approaches to BEY are conducted via ILS. RNAV/GNSS approaches are published but operationally unusable due to the persistent spoofing environment. Runway 16/34 and Runway 17/35 ILS systems remain the sole reliable approach aids. Pilots are advised to deselect GPS as a navigation source well before entering the affected area and rely on IRS/VOR/DME for enroute navigation.

The airport's single-runway configuration means that ILS availability is critical — any ILS outage in the current spoofing environment would effectively close the airport. Lebanon's DGCA maintains ongoing NOTAMs addressing the navigation situation.

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