First plane leaves Beirut after volcanic ash disruption

BEIRUT - An Air France plane headed Monday from Beirut to Nice, thus becoming the first aircraft to travel from Lebanon to France since passenger traffic was stopped due to a cloud of ash from an Icelandic volcano.

The French Civil Aviation Authority has extended the closure of Paris’ Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports until Tuesday morning, but has partially opened some airports in the south, including Toulouse and Nice, for several long distance flights.

The Lebanese state-run National News Agency said that the flight from Beirut was supposed to land at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport but the captain was asked to change his course and land in Nice airport.

Most of the passengers on board were French nationals heading home and Lebanese working in France after they were stranded in Beirut for several days by the disruptions caused by volcanic ash.

Air France said Monday that the halt of services due to Iceland’s volcano was costing the company 35 million euros ($47 million) per day.

According to officials at Beirut International Airport a Lebanese national carrier Middle East Airline craft also left Beirut for Milan Monday, but the captain was asked to divert his course to Rome after take off, because Milan airport is still closed.