The Beirut Rafik Hariri International Airport served 1,159,815 passengers in August, a 9 percent increase, according to Beirut-based newspaper The Daily Star.
Since the beginning of the year, the airport served a total of 6,002,040 passengers, up from the 5,535,725 passengers last year, the report added.
Lebanon’s only operational airport has been experiencing overcrowding at its terminals, and flight delays as a result of a system failure earlier this month.
A source told The Daily Star expansion is a top priority due to the congestion and increased number of visitors.
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A $500 million expansion project is in the works to offer more space at the airport, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Airport officials expect to award a contract by June 2020.
Although the airport’s current capacity is 6 million, Lebanon passed 8,234,782 travelers through the airport last year, airport officials added.