Khazen

BEIRUT, (Xinhua) — Beirut airport’s manager and general director of civil aviation must be suspended from their jobs for failing to fulfill their responsibilities and duties, Lebanese anti-corruption official said Wednesday. A software error at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (RHIA) led to flights delays, causing great chaos and congestion in the airport’s departure halls on Sept. 6 and 7. “The chaos that happened at the airport last week is unacceptable and should not be repeated,” Wadih Akl, advisor to the State Ministry for Combating Corruption, was quoted by Elnashra, an online independent newspaper, as saying. Akl said that Beirut airport’s manager and director of civil aviation are currently under investigation. “Corruption must stop in all public departments and every corrupted employee must be suspended from work,” Akl said. He added that there are a lot of other highly skilled people who are willing to work in such positions and do a very good job if they are given the chance. Congestion at RHIA has been a hot topic in Lebanon lately. Officials have on many occasions called for the expansion of the airport in Beirut for the increasing number of passengers in addition to replacing old equipment. Earlier this year, Lebanese Finance Ministry approved 18 million U.S. dollars in funding for the expansion. Renovation work at the airport is expected to start in November.