An experimental study on the behaviour of a magnetically stabilized bed fluidized by a gas-liquid flow in the riser of an external loop airlift has been performed. The magnetic field suitable for fluidization in tall columns, such as an airlift riser, has been generated by a saddle coil magnetic system. Special attention has been paid on the magnetic field effect on the liquid circulation velocity controlled by the structure of the stabilized bed at the riser bottom. Simple data correlations and a model for transition from an airlift into a bubble column regime are created. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.