Airports / Lebanon / BEY
Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport.
Beirut, Lebanon · 87 ft elevation. 5 charter operators based here.
OLBA
IATA BEY
5
Operators based
87
Elevation ft
Based operators
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
5 operators
Charter fleet based on the field
More resident charter operators than 90% of the 651 US fields with a based fleet on the register.
25 nm
To the nearest alternate
Rayak Air Base (OLRA), 2 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport (OLBA / BEY) is a large commercial airport serving Beirut, Lebanon. Field elevation is 87 feet above sea level. Scheduled carriers operate here, and the field also sees regular private and charter activity.
For charter flyers, BEY is a home base: Cedar Executive, Executive Sky, and Ibex Air Charter operate from the field, 5 in all. The closest alternate fields are Rayak Air Base (OLRA, 25 nm), Wujah Al Hajar Air Base (Z19O, 29 nm), and Rosh Pina Airport (RPN, 51 nm). The field has 3 runways, the longest 12,467-foot paved runway, long enough for charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
Trip costs from BEY are driven by the aircraft category flown and how far it must reposition. You may also see the field referenced as Chaldea and Beirut Air Base. Browse operators flying from the area or estimate a trip cost from BEY to plan your flight.
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Field capability
ICAO
OLBA
IATA
BEY
FAA / Local
OLBA
Elevation
87 ft
Coordinates
33.8198° N · 35.4874° E
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Large
Scheduled svc
Yes
Runways & aircraft access
3 runways
longest 12,467 ft
- 03/2112,467 ft × 148 ftConcreteLighted
- 16/3411,138 ft × 148 ftConcreteLighted
- 17/3510,663 ft × 197 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 12,467 ft
BEY's 12,467 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Based charter operators5
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 25nmOLRARayak Air BaseRayak
- 29nmZ19OWujah Al Hajar Air BaseHamat
- 51nmRPNRosh Pina AirportRosh Pina
- 53nmKYERene Mouawad Air BaseTripoli
- 57nmDAMDamascus International AirportDamascus
- 65nmHFAUri Michaeli Haifa International AirportHaifa
Location
Open the full mapOLBA · Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport · Beirut, Lebanon
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from BEY on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Boston (BED) | 4,715 nm | 11h 22m |
| New York (TEB) | 4,873 nm | 11h 44m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 5,066 nm | 12h 11m |
| Anchorage (ANC) | 5,097 nm | 12h 15m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 5,292 nm | 12h 42m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 5,504 nm | 13h 12m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 5,647 nm | 13h 32m |
| Miami (MIA) | 5,690 nm | 13h 38m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use BEY?
- Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport's longest paved runway is 12,467 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at BEY?
- Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport has 3 runways; the longest measures 12,467 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- Are there charter operators based at BEY?
- Yes. 5 charter operators list Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport as a home base, including Cedar Executive, Executive Sky, Ibex Air Charter. You can also request quotes from operators that reposition aircraft into the field.
- What is the nearest major airport to BEY?
- The closest alternate is Rayak Air Base (OLRA), about 25 nm away, followed by Wujah Al Hajar Air Base (Z19O) at 29 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from BEY to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Boston about 11h 22m (4,715 nm), New York about 11h 44m (4,873 nm), Washington DC about 12h 11m (5,066 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.