Ryanair, the biggest budget airline in Europe, seems to be interested in the Middle East. It announced its expansion in the region last year with the launch of a number of> flights to Jordan and to Morocco. This year, the low fare airline decided to get flying in and out of Lebanon.
The flights are scheduled to begin this October and will cost less than 50 euros ($56) round trip, according to The Daily Star.
"We're pleased to announce Ryanair's low fares have arrived in Beirut, our newest airport and 1st in Lebanon," Chiara Ravara, Ryanair's head of sales and marketing, said in a statement.
But, there's a catch. The airline will only fly to Beirut three times a week from Paphos in Cyprus. Initial fares start at around $14 one-way.
Lebanon will be the 38th country the Irish carrier operates in; it currently flies to 200 destinations around the world and carries over 151 million passengers a year.
The announcement comes nine years after Lebanon's former tourism minister, Fadi Abboud, told The Independent that the capital needs cheaper flights.
"I really want Ryanair and easyJet to consider Lebanon," Abboud said at the time.
Well, his wishes seem to have been only partially granted ... nine years later.
People of the internet were thrilled at the news, up until they learned that Cyprus is the only destination available to travelers from Beirut.
However, considering the incredibly low fares to the European country - maybe it's a place worth considering for a quick, short, and cheap getaway?
Maybe that would be the case if Cyprus were a visa-free destination for Lebanese tourists. But, since it's not, travelers would need to go through the visa process to get into Cyprus - unless they already have a valid Schengen visa stamped on their passport.
For those who need to apply for one, the visa fees range between $41 (single entry) and $87 (multiple entry).
Still may be cheaper than a day spent at Lazy B (if you're considering entrance fee + food + drinks)
OK, maybe the news isn't as exciting as one would expect, but it's the first step. The airline may launch other routes in the future (fingers crossed) to and from Beirut ... so here's to staying hopeful!