Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY)

Overview

Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY) is located in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, six miles (9km) from the city centre. The airport has one U-shaped terminal, comprised of the East Wing and West Wing with a connecting mid-section, and has four floors. Although Beirut International Airport is the only airport in Lebanon, its facilities are somewhat limited. This is because the airport has had a limited number of passengers over the past decade or so, particularly when tensions with Israel have run high. However, as the country undergoes a tourism renaissance of sorts, Beirut International Airport is transforming itself into a suitably stress-free gateway to a laid-back holiday in Lebanon.

Location

The airport is situated five miles (8km) south of the city.

Getting to the city

Taxis are available outside the arrivals hall and can be organised through hotels or reputable companies online prior to arrival, and Uber is also available in Beirut. There are mini-buses which travel to Charles Helou Bus Station that can sometimes be found outside the departures section of the terminal building, as well as minibuses just outside of the airport grounds.

Time

GMT +2 (GMT +3 from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October).

Contacts

Tel: +961 0 1 628 000 or 150 from inside Lebanon.

Car rental

Car rental companies located at the airport include Dealers, Budget, City Car, National, Avis, Europcar and Hertz. The car rental operators' desks can be found in the arrivals hall.

Airport Taxis

Organising taxis through reputable companies online or through hotels prior to arrival is the easiest way to get a reliable taxi. Otherwise, taxis are usually available outside the arrivals hall; be sure to agree on a price before getting into the taxi as the fare shouldn't be more than LBP 30,000 to LBP 40,000 ($20 to $25) for a trip into downtown Beirut. Uber is an increasingly afforable and reliable option.

Facilities

Airport facilities include ATMs, currency exchange services, offices, a bank, pay phones, a post office, luggage wrapping services, lost baggage complaints, business lounges, public internet access, a prayer room, first aid and emergency medical services. The Information Centre staff members are multilingual (generally speaking Arabic, French and English). There are a number of cafés and restaurants open to the public, located in the arrival zone. There are also a number of shops, including duty-free.

Parking

Parking for 2,350 cars is available at the airport. The parking area is connected to the terminal by an underground walkway. Parking rates start at LBP 8,000 for an hour, and go up to LBP 21,000 per day.

Website

www.beirutairport.gov.lb

Airlines

A wide range of airlines offer flights to Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport, including European airlines such as Lufthansa, Air France, LOT Polish Airways, Alitalia, Bulgaria Air and Czech Airlines. Low-cost carriers such as Flydubai and Pegasus Air provide cheap flights to Beirut International. Middle East Airlines flies from Beirut to Paris, Rome, London Heathrow, Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Istanbul, as well as many other destinations.

Internet

Wifi internet access is available at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport. The first half hour is free. For longer access passengers will need to buy an internet card, available in the duty free area, or use their credit card.

Business Lounges

Airline business lounges have telephone, internet and faxing facilities. The airport does not have conference facilities, but there are a number of nearby hotels (such as the Movenpick Hotel and Resort and the Habtoor Grand Hotel) that do.

Beirut International Airport Taxis: the taxi fares above are intended as a guideline only.