The first phase of the project of expanding Beirut Airport was launched on Monday, the National News Agency reported.

"We aim at providing the Lebanese and tourists with facilities that allow passengers to complete their travel procedures in an effective way," Public Works and Transport Minister Youssef Fenianos told reporters at the airport.

A fast track will be installed for the airport during the summer, he said.

Lebanese officials have on many occasions called for expansion of Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport in an effort to better serve the increasing passengers.

According to a study released by the airport in March 2018, as many as 10 million passengers are expected to travel through the Beirut Airport by 2020, which has the capacity of hosting only 6 million passengers annually.

In 2018, Lebanese Finance Ministry approved 18 million U.S. dollars in funding the expansion of the Beirut Airport.