After news circulated about the possibility of conducting a test landing for a plane belonging to the Middle East Airlines, talk about Qlayaat Airport returned to the spotlight. This technical step aims to evaluate the readiness of the airport runway, and determine whether it needs comprehensive rehabilitation, or just limited restoration work.
According to information available in the newspapers, this file was discussed in the last cabinet session. The Minister of Public Works and Transport, Fayez Rasamny, presented a request to assign the Council for Development and Reconstruction to contract with the “Middle East Airport Service Company” to carry out rehabilitation and maintenance work. However, the Council preferred to take its time and learn more opinions before making a decision.
Informed sources told “Reed TV” that 27 Arab and international companies have expressed official interest in participating in the project. She pointed out that a contract was recently concluded with the “Middle East Company” without issuing tenders or referring to the Public Procurement Authority. What are the reasons behind this sudden development? In this regard, legal sources stressed the necessity of assigning the work to a specialized company in accordance with the applicable legal procedures, especially through the bidding mechanism, before conducting any experimental landing.
On the other hand, other sources warned of attempts to obstruct the project, and called on the government to be transparent given the development, economic and social importance that the restart of Qlayaat Airport holds for the Akkar region and Lebanon in general.
Amid these developments, the question remains: Will Qlayaat Airport witness its launch soon?
