What happened
President Trump has announced that airlines from the United States can once again fly to Lebanon, reversing a policy that has been in place since 1985 following the hijacking of TWA flight number 847. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated it looks forward to working with airlines and interagency partners to implement the directive. While the ban is lifted, actual service launch is not guaranteed. The article notes that US airlines are not currently flying to Tel Aviv, and Beirut service may be even riskier. The US State Department maintains a “Do Not Travel” advisory for Lebanon. Challenges include demand, safety assessments, and union agreements. United Airlines is suggested as a potential candidate given its global network, while Middle East Airlines has operated the route all along. Air Canada is also mentioned as a possibility for North America-Beirut service