<h2 class="blog-hed2 pb-lg-4 pb-3 text-lg-center">History Beirut International Airport</h2>
<p class="blog-para">The airport opened on 23 April 1954, replacing the much smaller Bir Hassan Airfield which was located a short distance north. At the time of its opening, the terminal was very modern and it featured an excellent spotters terrace with a caf&eacute;.</p>
<p class="blog-para">The airport consisted of two asphalt runways at the time. Runway 18/36 at 3,250 metres (10,663 ft) was used primarily for landings from the 18 end while runway 03/21 at 3,180 metres (10,433 ft) was used primarily for take-offs from the 21 end and from the Sami end.</p>
<p class="blog-para">The airport grew to become a premier hub in the Middle East, thanks to limited competition from neighbours, with fast and steady growth by the country's four carriers at the time, Middle East Airlines (MEA), Air Liban, Trans Mediterranean Airways (TMA), and Lebanese International Airways (LIA), and numerous other foreign carriers.</p>
<p class="blog-para">In response to an attack on El Al Flight 253 two days earlier in Athens, on the night of 28 December 1968, Israeli commandos mounted a surprise attack on the airport and destroyed 14 civilian aircraft operated by the Lebanese carriers, Middle East Airlines (Air Liban had merged with MEA by this time), Trans Mediterranean Airways, and Lebanese International Airways. This caused serious devastation to the Lebanese aviation industry. Middle East Airlines managed to rebound quickly, but Lebanese International Airways went bankrupt and its employees were transferred to MEA.</p>
<p><img class="img-fluid p-lg-0 rounded w-100" title="History Beirut International Airport" src="../../../main/img/airport/beirut/b.webp" alt="History Beirut International Airport"></p>
<!--end first section--><!--second section-->
<h2 class="blog-hed2 pb-lg-4 pb-3 pt-5">Transportation Beirut International Airport</h2>
<p class="blog-para">The following means of transport are available at Beirut Airport:</p>
<ul class="blog-ul">
<li class="blog-li"><strong>Taxi:</strong> Get to downtown Beirut within 30 minutes.</li>
<li class="blog-li"><strong>Car rental:</strong> Rent a car through in Beirut Airport our search engine or in the Arrivals Hall.</li>
</ul>