Figures released by the Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport  (HIA) show that 5 million passengers utilized the airport (arrivals, departures and transit) in the first eight months of 2023, constituting increases of 19.3% from 2.65 million passengers in the same period of  2022, and of 88.4% from 2.06 million passengers in the first eight  months of 2021. Also, 914,262 passengers utilized the airport in August 2023, constituting an increase of 15.2% from 793,287 in August  2022 and a decrease of 1.1% from 924,223 in July 2023. The number  of arriving passengers reached 2.5 million passengers in the first eight  months of 2023, and grew by 20.7% from 2.08 million passengers in  the same period of 2022 and by 94.2% from 1.3 million passengers  in the first eight months of 2021. The number of arriving passengers  stood at 379,114 in August, representing an increase of 19% from  318,605 in August 2022 and a decline of 24.8% from 503,887 passengers in July 2023. Also, the number of departing passengers totaled  2.48 million in the first eight months of 2023, constituting increases  of 18.7% from 2.1 million passengers in the same period of last yearand of 88.2% from 1.3 million passengers in the first eight months of  2021. The number of departing passengers reached 534,050 in August, representing increases of 13.3% from 471,185 in August 2022  and of 27.3% from 419,512 departing passengers in July 2023. The rise in the number of airport passengers in the covered period is due  in part to the rolling back of most travel restrictions around the world in light of the receding threat of the coronavirus pandemic, and  the subsequent increase in mobility amid the resumption of normal activity.  In parallel, the airport's aircraft activity totaled 39,887 take-offs and landings in the first eight months of 2023, representing an increase  of 15.6% from 34,510 takeoffs and landings in the same period last year. In comparison, aircraft activity rose by 39.6% in the first eightmonths of 2022 and by 42.4% in the same period of 2021. In addition, the HIA processed 37,873 metric tons of freight in the first eight  months of 2023 that consisted of 21,394 tons of import freight and 16,479 tons of export freight. Middle East Airlines had 16,939 flights  in the covered period and accounted for 42.5% of HIA's total aircraft activity. (ICE BEIRUT)

Fonte notizia: Byblos Bank, Lebanon This Week, 4 - 9 September 2023