A step that paves the way for the resumption of direct flights.. Trump cancels American restrictions imposed on flying to and from Lebanon

The Lebanese Embassy in Washington welcomed the decision of US President Donald Trump to cancel a number of previous presidential decisions that imposed restrictions on air traffic to and from Lebanon, considering that this step paves the way for the resumption of direct flights between Lebanon and the United States.

Presidential Decision No. 2026-25, which Trump signed on September 30 and published in the US Federal Register on October 5, included the cancellation of four previous decisions issued between 1985 and 2007, against the backdrop of security concerns related to aviation safety.

According to the text of the official presidential document, Trump concluded that previous decisions were no longer necessary to ensure the security of aircraft operating to and from Lebanon in the face of the risks of illegal seizure.

The decision stipulated the complete cancellation of the four decisions, while directing the US Secretary of Transportation to implement this measure immediately and cancel any regulations, rules or orders that conflict with its content, with the cancellation taking effect immediately.

In its comment on the decision on its official Facebook page, the Lebanese Embassy in Washington explained that it comes as a continuation of President Trump’s announcement following his meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House on July 21, as well as following the meeting between Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on September 28.

The embassy considered that the decision represents “the result of the continuous efforts made by the US Embassy in Beirut, the Lebanese Embassy in Washington, and the Lebanese Ministry of Public Works and Transport,” noting that it “reflects confidence in the security measures adopted by the Lebanese authorities, and represents an important first step on the path to restoring direct flights between Lebanon and the United States.”

The embassy pointed out that resuming direct flights in the future would “bring Lebanon closer to the large Lebanese community residing in the United States, and strengthen ties between the two peoples,” in addition to stimulating tourism and commercial activity and opening new horizons for investment and economic exchange.

Although the American decision entered into force immediately after its issuance, it did not include setting a date for launching direct flights between Lebanon and the United States, but rather was limited to canceling previous presidential restrictions and directing the removal of regulations and orders that conflict with them, which makes it an essential legal and regulatory step towards enabling the resumption of these flights in the future.