Qatar Airways’ first flight back to Beirut following last month’s ceasefire landed safely in the Lebanese capital. Flight QR422 touched down at Beirut Rafic International Airport following a three-hour journey from Doha International Airport.

The Doha-based airline announced the resumption of charter flights to Beirut with non-stop services after the request was approved by the Lebanese authorities.

The first flight QR422, an Airbus A320 with a capacity of 118 passengers plus crew, took off from Doha International Airport arriving in Beirut. The aircraft landed safely in Beirut and was met by airport officials who welcomed the arrival after the airport was left without any commercial services since mid-July.

The resumption of charter flights also means Qatar Airways is able to carry much-needed humanitarian cargo to Lebanon.

Qatar Airways is the first airline to receive permission for charter and humanitarian services to the war-ravaged country since the signing of a ceasefire agreement on August 14.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said: “The resumption of charter flights by Qatar Airways to Beirut is great news for the people of Lebanon. After weeks without any air links to Beirut, Qatar Airways can now begin repatriating Lebanese citizens and also lend our support in terms of aid shipment to the country.”

“Once we secured approval for our flights, we were only too pleased to begin operations as many people were keen to return home and start the rebuilding of their beautiful country.”

During the war, Qatar Airways continued to operate a series of extra flights to neighbouring Syria. The airline operated the extra flights in addition to the scheduled daily service between Doha and the Syrian capital, Damascus. From July 13 to August 15, Qatar Airways carried more than 13,000 passengers from Damascus to Doha.