Nightstop in Beirut

[Flyguy428]

I'm scheduled to arrive later today in Beirut and stay overnight in a hotel in the north of Beirut (Intercontinental Phoenicia). The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office advise against all travel to a number of area's, including:

southern suburbs of Beirut east of the airport road, defined as: south of the sports stadium to the airport, to east of the main airport highway including the neighbourhoods of Ghobeiry, Chuya, Haret, Hraik, Burj Al Brajne, Mraije, Er Rouais and Laylake


southern suburbs of Beirut west of the airport road, defined as: west of the airport highway to the coast, south from Adnan El Hakim Road to Abbas El Mousawi Road.


If you take the highway from the airport to the north of Beirut, you pass through the "red" area.

Does anybody have any idea how safe it is there at the moment?
Is it safe to take the highway to the center?
What are the major airlines currently doing; are they staying overnight?

Thanks for the input!

https://assets.digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk/media/54cf68bb40f0b613bf00000c/150202_FCO_301_-_Lebanon_Travel_Advice_Ed17__WEB_.jpg

Source: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/lebanon

[fliion]

Olbie works for EK Group Security : /

[Shooting_Star]

If you just drive through it shouldnt be a problem, just dont go out for walk there...

[alwayzinit]

I would suggest you remind the company that they have "a duty of care" not to put you at undue risk, copied to your lawyer.

[fliion]

Lol - it was a joke on EK.

Chillax - it ain't all about you 👍

[Old King Coal]

One might consider that travel advice written by the UK's FCO is most typically aimed at the lowest common denominator type of traveller. i.e. written for a thick-as-**** tourist and / or those without common sense, and not so much for supposedly seasoned world travellers, such as airline pilots.

Common sense & situational awareness provides a lot of safety.

[EDDT]

The BEY nightstop was an issue 2 years ago in my company too.
One crew on its way from the airport was hijacked! So we had a second (armed) vehicle follow us.
There is occasionally a bomb going off in the city and they are still in war with Israel. Yes there is actally know peace agreement until today.
So better stay in the hotel, shouldnt be hard, as the city is 95% ugly, polluted and crowded.

http://www.news24.com/World/News/Turkish-Airline-crew-kidnapped-in-Lebanon-20130809:eek: (http://www.news24.com/World/News/Turkish-Airline-crew-kidnapped-in-Lebanon-20130809)

[ODGUY]

Beirut ugly? To each their own.

The drive to the hotel is the most dangerous part and should be your main concern. It's the actual driving that's dangerous.

As for the Turkish comments, well anyone that follows regional developments knows why they were targeted, and why Beirut has become overpopulated.