Annahar reported today that “the transformation of the Qlaiaat airport in the North into a large-scale facility would provide 6,000 new job opportunities on the first year of its operation”. [Full Article]

The cost of rehabilitating the whole airport is only 45 million dollars, which is nothing compared to the profits it will bring in. Added to that, PM Najib Mikati is showing interest in this issue and has “tasked Public Works Minister Ghazi Aridi to prepare a feasibility study after a suggestion by Finance Minister Mohammed Safadi to allow Middle East Airlines to use it”, which is good. Unfortunately though, the decision to open the airport is more complicated than that and is not just about money.

Nevertheless, we can only hope it will open because we do need another airport.