Middle East Airlines
Template:Short description Template:About Template:Missing information Template:Infobox airline
Middle East Airlines – Air Liban S.A.L. (Template:Langx), more commonly known as Middle East Airlines (MEA) (Template:Langx), is the flag carrier of Lebanon, with its head office in Beirut,<ref>"Template:Cite web</ref> near Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It operates scheduled international flights to Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa from its base at Rafic Hariri International Airport.<ref name="FI">Template:Cite news</ref>
Middle East Airlines (MEA) is a member of the SkyTeam airline alliance. MEA expressed its interest in becoming a SkyTeam associate member in early 2006 at a press conference in New York.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> On 28 February 2011, the airline signed the partnership agreement with SkyTeam at a ceremony in Beirut, and officially joined the alliance on 28 June 2012, becoming its 17th member and the second member airline in the Middle East.
History
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Middle East Airlines - Air Liban was founded on 31 May 1945 by Saeb Salam and Fawzi EL-Hoss with operational and technical support from BOAC. Operations started on 1 January 1946 using three de Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapides on flights between Beirut and Nicosia, followed by flights to Iraq, Egypt, and Syria. Two Douglas DC-3s were acquired in mid 1946. Pan American World Airways acquired a stake and management contract in September 1949. Pan Am was replaced when BOAC acquired 49% of MEA's shares in 1955. A Vickers Viscount was introduced in October 1955 while an Avro York cargo aircraft was leased in June 1957. On 15 December 1960 the first of four de Havilland Comet 4Cs arrived. After the association with BOAC ended on 16 August 1961, MEA was merged with Air Liban on 7 June 1963, which gave Air France a 30% holding (since relinquished). The full title was then Middle East Airlines – Air Liban. In 1963, MEA also took over Lebanese International Airways.
The current name was adopted in November 1965 when the airline was merged with Air Liban. Although operations were interrupted by the 1967 Arab–Israeli war, and by the Israeli raid on Beirut Airport in 1968, in which the airline lost three Comet 4C's, two Caravelles, a Boeing 707, the Vickers VC10, and the Vickers Viscount,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> MEA restarted by acquiring a Convair 990A from American Airlines, which entered service on 24 June 1969.
A Boeing 747-200B entered service in June 1975 on the Beirut–London route, and later on the Beirut–Paris–New York route from April 1983 until mid 1985. MEA had to adjust its operations due to the Lebanese Civil War between 1975 and 1991 but continued services despite multiple closures of the base at Beirut International Airport. Airbus A310-300s were acquired in 1993 and 1994, followed by an A321-200 in 1997 and the A330-200 (which replaced the A310s) in 2003. The airline has introduced self-check-in kiosks at Beirut International Airport as of 2010.
In November 2011, MEA's pilots union staged a 48-hour strike after a captain undergoing cancer treatment was dismissed shortly after going on sick leave.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 28 June 2012, Middle East Airlines joined the SkyTeam alliance to become its 17th member and the second in the Middle East following Saudia. 5,000 staff are employed across the airline group. The central bank of Lebanon, Banque du Liban, owns a majority share of 99.50%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 11 November 2025, during its 80th anniversary conference, MEA's chairman, Mohamad El Hout, revealed the airline's plans to launch a new low-cost subsidiary, "Fly Beirut", to be managed by MEA itself. According to El Hout, the airline will commence operation in 2027 with a fleet of 6 aeroplanes and will be based out of Rene Mouawad Airport in North Lebanon. <ref>https://www.mtv.com.lb/en/news/Local/1627931/chairman-of-mea-mohamad-el-hout--we-have-set-plans-for-the-next-phase--starting-with-restoring-beirut-s-role-as-a-maintenance-hub-for-international-airlines--launching-fly-beirut-in-2027--and-receivin</ref>
Destinations
Template:More citations needed section Middle East Airlines flies to 32 destinations, spanning across the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Codeshare agreements
MEA has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:<ref name="CAPA Middle East Airlines profile">Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Div col
- Air Canada
- Air Europa<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Air France
- Etihad Airways
- Gulf Air
- ITA Airways<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Kuwait Airways<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Qatar Airways
- Saudia
- Sky Express
- TAROM
- Turkish Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic
Template:Div col end MEA also participates in SNCF's (French National Railways) tgvair program.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>
Fleet
Current fleet
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Template:As of, Middle East Airlines operates the following aircraft:<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passengers | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | Y | Total | ||||
| Airbus A320-200 | 7 | — | 24 | 102 | 126 | OD-MRL holds aircraft MSN 5,000 of the Airbus A320 family. |
| Airbus A321neo | 10 | 1 | 28 | 132 | 160 | T7-ME3 holds aircraft MSN 10,000 of the Airbus A320 family. |
| Airbus A321XLR | — | 4 | — | — | 150 | |
| Airbus A330-200 | 4 | — | 44 | 200 | 244 | |
| Airbus A330-900 | — | 4 | 42 | 238 | 280 | |
| Cedar Executive Fleet | ||||||
| Embraer Legacy 500 | 2 | — | 12 | — | 12 | Registered as OD-CXJ and OD-CXL. |
| Total | 23 | 9 | ||||
Historic fleet
- Airbus A300B4
- Airbus A300-600
- Airbus A310-200
- Airbus A310-300
- Airbus A321-200
- Avro York
- Boeing 707-320C
- Boeing 720B
- Boeing 747-100
- Boeing 747-200B
- Convair CV-990A
- de Havilland Comet
- Douglas DC-3
- Douglas DC-4
- Sud Aviation SE 210 Caravelle
- Vickers VC10
- Vickers Viscount
Fleet development
Template:Expand section Middle East Airlines - Air Liban firmed up its order for ten Airbus A320neo family aircraft (five A320neo and five A321neo) in January 2013.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The order for the A320neo was later converted to five more A321neo aircraft. The first A321neo was delivered on 10 July 2020;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the third, delivered 9 October 2020, was the 10,000th A320 family aircraft produced.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Two more A321neo aircraft are expected to join the airline's fleet in 2024, summing up the whole A321neo fleet size to 11.
On 12 December 2018, the then-Prime Minister of Lebanon, Saad Hariri, signed an order with engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce Holdings for four Airbus A330-900s.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During the 2019 Paris Air Show, the airline became the then launch customer for the A321XLR: four XLRs were ordered, intended for use on routes to Africa and Asia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Cedar Executive, MEA's business jet subsidiary, took delivery of its first Embraer Legacy 500 on 5 January 2016.
Frequent-flyer program
In 2011, Middle East Airlines - Air Liban changed its frequent-flyer program to a 4-tier program - Blue Cedar, Silver Cedar, Golden Cedar, and President's Club, respectively, in preparation for joining the SkyTeam airline alliance. Silver Cedar, Golden Cedar, and President's Club members gain numerous benefits such as access to the Cedar Lounge at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, as well as outstation lounges at all MEA destinations. Golden Cedar and President's Club offer additional benefits, including guaranteed economy seat reservation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Cedar Miles can be earned and redeemed on all MEA flights and on all flights operated by Air France, KLM, and Qatar Airways, as well as codeshare partners on certain routes. Cedar Miles can also be earned during stays at all Rotana Hotels and all Hertz car rentals worldwide.<ref name="Frequent Flyer Partners">Template:Cite web</ref>
Subsidiaries
MEA owns the following subsidiaries, which are operated independently:
- Cedar Executive
- Founded in January 2016, Cedar Executive is a private jet service based at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport which operates business flights across Europe and the Middle East, using two Embraer Legacy 500s. Clients have access to a private lounge and chauffeur service to the flight.
- Middle East Airlines Ground Handling (MEAG)
- Founded in 1999, MEAG is the main ground handling agent at Beirut International Airport, handling nearly 80% of all traffic. MEAG also operates a fixed-base operator called Cedar Jet Center at the General Aviation Terminal.
- Middle East Airports Services (MEAS)
- Founded in 1998, MEAS is responsible for the operation and maintenance of Beirut International Airport. Services range from cleaning of the terminals to de-rubberising the runways.
- Mideast Aircraft Services Company (MASCO)
- Founded in 1955, MASCO is the only fully-fledged aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul provider at Beirut International Airport. MASCO is a part 145 EASA-approved MRO with full airframe check capabilities on the Airbus A300, A310, A320, and A330 family aircraft. MASCO is also certified to carry out aircraft painting.
In addition, MEA owns 77.5% of the Lebanese Beirut Airport Catering Company (LBACC), the only catering provider at Beirut International Airport.
Accidents and incidents
- On 24 July 1950, an Air Liban Douglas DC-3 registered as LR-AAN was shot at by an Israeli Spitfire; the DC-3 landed safely at Beirut Airport, but 3 passengers (of 28 on board) were killed in the attack.<ref>Template:ASN accident</ref>
- On 6 January 1952, an Air Liban SNCASE Languedoc registered as OD-ABU crashed on take-off from Beirut Airport, and was consequently destroyed by fire. All nine passengers and crew on board survived. The aircraft was operating a scheduled international passenger flight from Beirut to Kuwait Airport, Kuwait.<ref name=ASN060154>Template:Cite web</ref>
- On 29 September 1958, Middle East Airlines Avro York registered as OD-ADB disappeared over the Mediterranean Sea with five on board.<ref>Template:ASN accident</ref>
- On 1 February 1963, Flight 265, a Vickers Viscount 754D registered as OD-ADE, was involved in a mid-air collision with Turkish Air Force C-47 CBK28. Both aircraft crashed in Ankara, killing all 14 on board the Viscount, all 3 on board the C-47 and a further 87 people on the ground.<ref name=ASN010263>Template:Cite web</ref>
- On 17 April 1964, Flight 444 operated by Sud Caravelle III registered as OD-AEM struck the sea near Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, killing all 49 on board; the cause of the accident was not determined.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- On 21 April 1964, a Middle East Airlines Vickers Viscount 754D registered as OD-ACX was damaged beyond economic repair at El Arish, Egypt after the taxiway it was taxiing on collapsed.<ref name=ASN210464>Template:Cite web</ref>
- On 28 December 1968, sevenTemplate:Efn MEA aircraft were destroyed in a raid by Israeli commandos at Beirut International Airport. This attack was in retaliation for a terrorist attack on an El Al Boeing aircraft in Athens which killed an Israeli mechanic.<ref name=ASN281268>Template:Cite web</ref> The attack drew a sharp rebuke from the US, who stated that nothing suggested that the Lebanese authorities had anything to do with the El Al attack.<ref name=state>Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Israel, Washington, December 29, 1968: Subject: Israeli Attack on Khaldeh Airport.</ref>
- On 1 January 1976, Flight 438, operated by Boeing 720B registered as OD-AFT, broke up in mid-air after the explosion of a bomb allegedly placed in the forward cargo compartment. All 81 people on board were killed, some of whom were fleeing the ongoing Lebanese Civil War.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The aircraft crashed near Al Qaysumah, Saudi Arabia.<ref name=ASN010176>Template:Cite web</ref>
- On 12 June 1982, in response to the attempted assassination by the Abu Nidal Group of the Israeli ambassador to Britain, the Israeli army attacked the airport in Beirut, destroying Middle East Airlines Boeing 720-023B OD-AFP. Four days later, four more aircraft (three 720s and one 707) were destroyed in a second attack. On 1 August 1982, a 14-hour non-stop bombing raid on Beirut destroyed Boeing 720-047B OD-AGG.Template:Citation needed
- On 21 August 1985, two MEA Boeing 720s (OD-AFL and OD-AGQ) were destroyed by shelling at Beirut International Airport.<ref>Template:ASN accident</ref><ref>Template:ASN accident</ref>
- On 8 January 1987, a Boeing 707-323C registered as OD-AHB was destroyed by shelling after landing at Beirut International Airport.<ref name=ASN070108>Template:Cite web</ref>
- On 16 November 2001, an Airbus A321-200 registered as F-OHMP was operating as Flight 304 from Beirut International Airport to Cairo International Airport when it sustained damage during a tail strike accident upon landing at Cairo. This airframe would be destroyed by a bomb nearly 14 years later midflight as Metrojet Flight 9268.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
See also
- Lebanese identity card
- List of airports in Lebanon
- Lebanese passport
- SkyTeam
- Transport in Lebanon
- Visa policy of Lebanon
- Visa requirements for Lebanese citizens