German airline Sundair expanded its route network from Nuremberg Airport on December 23, 2025. With its inaugural flight to the Lebanese capital, Beirut, the company is serving a niche route of significant importance to the region. The connection is currently operated once a week, every Tuesday, using Airbus A320 family aircraft. Sundair, majority-owned by tour operator Schauinsland-Reisen, uses Airbus A320 or A319 aircraft for this long-haul route, which, depending on the configuration, can accommodate up to 180 passengers. The flight time between Nuremberg and the Mediterranean coast is approximately four hours.
For Nuremberg Airport, the new connection represents a strategic addition, as the metropolitan region is home to one of the largest Lebanese communities in southern Germany. Previously, travelers visiting relatives often had to endure time-consuming connecting flights via international hubs such as Istanbul or Paris. The nonstop connection therefore primarily targets family visits, but also offers potential for cultural tourism. Beirut is traditionally considered an important economic center of the region, and demand for direct flights has grown steadily in recent years despite political instability.
The resumption of the flight connection comes at a politically complex time. The German Foreign Office in Berlin maintains a partial travel warning for Lebanon, specifically advising against travel to border regions and certain districts of Tripoli. Nevertheless, the security situation has stabilized following the ceasefire agreement of November 2024 between Israel and Lebanon, prompting airlines such as Sundair and Middle East Airlines (MEA) to increase their flight capacity from Germany. Passengers are advised to check current entry requirements and the volatile security situation on the ground before traveling.
From an economic perspective, this route strengthens Sundair's position as a specialist in ethnic travel and special tourist destinations. The airline currently operates a fleet of nine aircraft, some of which are managed by its Croatian sister company, Fly Air41. By basing aircraft at regional airports like Nuremberg, the company avoids the fierce competition at major hubs and strategically targets markets with high demand for direct flights. In addition to Beirut, Sundair regularly serves destinations in the Eastern Mediterranean, North Africa, and the Canary Islands from other German locations.