Donald Trump lifts U.S.-Lebanon flight restrictions

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a presidential order, No. 2026-25, lifting decades-old restrictions on direct air travel between the United States and Lebanon. The order, signed on September 30, 2026, and published in the Federal Register on October 5, revokes four previous presidential decisions issued in 1985, 1992, 1998, and 2007.

The removal of these restrictions follows a July meeting at the White House between President Trump and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. The U.S. administration determined that the previous security measures, originally implemented following the 1985 hijacking of a TWA aircraft, are no longer necessary to protect flights from unlawful seizure.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun welcomed the decision, describing it as a “demonstration of confidence” in the security measures taken by the Lebanese state to ensure civil aviation safety and the security of Rafik Hariri International Airport. The Lebanese presidency and the embassy in Washington noted that the move could strengthen ties, tourism, and trade between the two nations.

While the order paves the way for the resumption of direct flights, officials clarified that service will not restart immediately. The resumption of routes, such as the potential Beirut–New York line, remains subject to regulatory, security, and operational preparations, including the updating of bilateral air transport agreements and the completion of necessary audits.