Middle East Airlines
 | This articleis missing informationabout MEA's finances.(December 2020) |
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| Founded | 31 May 1945 | ||||||
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| Commenced operations | 1 January 1946 | ||||||
| AOC # | MEA-A001 | ||||||
| Hubs | Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport | ||||||
| Frequent-flyer program | Cedar Miles | ||||||
| Alliance | SkyTeam[1] | ||||||
| Subsidiaries |
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| Fleet size | 25 (23 commercial airliners + 2 private jets) | ||||||
| Destinations | 33[2] | ||||||
| Parent company | Banque du Liban | ||||||
| Headquarters | Beirut,Lebanon | ||||||
| Key people | Mohammad El Hout (chairman&director general) | ||||||
| Profit |  US$-45,000,000 (2021)[3] | ||||||
| Employees | 5000+ (MEA, MEAG, MEAS, LBACC, MASCO) (2023) | ||||||
| Website | www | ||||||
Middle East Airlines – Air Liban S.A.L.(Arabic:طيران الشرق الأوسط ـ الخطوط الجوية اللبنانية,romanized:Ṭayyarān al-Sharq al-Awsaṭ – al-Khuṭūṭ al-jawiyyah al-lubnāniyyah), more commonly known asMiddle East Airlines(MEA) (Arabic:طيران الشرق الأوسط,romanized:Ṭayyarān al-Sharq al-Awsaṭ), is theflag carrierofLebanon,with its head office inBeirut,[4]nearBeirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport.[5]It operates scheduled international flights toAsia,Europe,theMiddle East,andAfricafrom its base at Rafic Hariri International Airport.[6]
Middle East Airlines (MEA) is a member of theSkyTeamairline alliance. MEA expressed its interest in becoming a SkyTeam associate member in early 2006 at a press conference inNew York.[7] 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
[edit] | This sectionneeds additional citations forverification.(December 2020) |
Middle East Airlines - Air Liban was founded on 31 May 1945 bySaeb Salamand Fawzi EL-Hoss with operational and technical support fromBOAC.Operations started on 1 January 1946 using threede Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapideson flights betweenBeirutandNicosia,followed by flights toIraq,Egypt,andSyria.TwoDouglas DC-3swere acquired in mid-1946.Pan American World Airwaysacquired a stake and management contract in September 1949. Pan Am was replaced when BOAC acquired 49% of MEA's shares in 1955. AVickers Viscountwas introduced in October 1955 while anAvro Yorkcargo aircraft was leased in June 1957. On 15 December 1960 the first of fourde Havilland Comet4Cs arrived. After the association with BOAC ended on 16 August 1961, MEA was merged with Air Liban on 7 June 1963, which gaveAir Francea 30% holding (since relinquished). The full title was then Middle East Airlines – Air Liban. In 1963 MEA also took overLebanese International Airways.
The current name was adopted in November 1965 when the airline was merged with Air Liban. Although operations were interrupted by the1967 Arab–Israeli war,and by theIsraeli 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[8]- MEA restarted by acquiring aConvair 990A fromAmerican Airlines,which entered service on 24 June 1969.
ABoeing 747-200Bentered service in June 1975 on the Beirut–Londonroute, and later on the Beirut–Paris–New York route from April 1983 until mid-1985. MEA had to adjust its operations due to theLebanese Civil Warbetween 1975 and 1991 but continued services despite multiple closures of the base at Beirut International Airport.Airbus A310-300swere acquired in 1993 and 1994, followed by anA321-200in 1997 and theA330-200(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 pilotsunionstaged a 48-hour strike after acaptainundergoingcancer treatmentwas dismissed shortly after going onsick leave.[9]
On 28 June 2012, Middle East Airlines joined theSkyTeamalliance to become its 17th member and the second in theMiddle EastfollowingSaudia.5,000 staff are employed across the airline group. Thecentral bankof Lebanon,Banque du Liban,owns a majority share of 99.50%.[10]
Destinations
[edit] | This sectionneeds additional citations forverification.(August 2024) |
Middle East Airlines flies to 32 destinations, spanning across the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.[11]
Codeshare agreements
[edit]MEA hascodeshare agreementswith the following airlines:[12]
MEA also participates inSNCF's (French National Railways)tgvairprogram.[16]
Fleet
[edit]Current fleet
[edit]
MEA (excluding Cedar Executive) operates an all-Airbusfleet. As of March 2023[update],it consists of the following aircraft:[citation needed]
| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passengers | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | E | Total | ||||||
| Airbus A320-200 | 9 | — | 24 | 102 | 126 | |||
| Airbus A321neo | 10 | 1 | 28 | 132 | 160 | T7-ME3 is the 10,000thAirbus A320 familyaircraft built. | ||
| Airbus A321XLR | — | 4 | — | — | 150 | Three to be delivered in 2024 and one in 2025.[citation needed] | ||
| Airbus A330-200 | 4 | — | 44 | 200 | 244 | |||
| Airbus A330-900 | — | 4 | 42 | 238 | 280 | Deliveries from 2026 to 2028.[17] | ||
| Cedar Executive Fleet | ||||||||
| Embraer Legacy 500 | 2 | — | 12 | — | 12 | OD-CXJ and OD-CXL | ||
| Total | 25 | 9 | ||||||
Historic fleet
[edit]Fleet development
[edit]![[icon]](/translate/en.wikipedia.org?u=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FFile%3AWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg&t=hv){kind=small} | This sectionneeds expansionwith: orders/deliveries and additional citations. You can help byadding to it.(December 2020) |
Middle East Airlines - Air Liban firmed up its order for tenAirbus A320neo familyaircraft (fiveA320neoand fiveA321neo) in January 2013.[18]The order for the A320neo was later converted to five more A321neo aircraft. The first A321neo was delivered on 10 July 2020;[19]the third, delivered 9 October 2020, was the 10,000th A320 family aircraft produced.[20]2 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 manufacturerRolls-Royce Holdingsfor fourAirbus A330-900s.[21]During the 2019Paris Air Show,the airline became the launch customer for theA321XLR:four XLRs were ordered, intended for use on routes to Africa and Asia.[22]
Cedar Executive, MEA'sbusiness jetsubsidiary, took delivery of its firstEmbraer Legacy 500on 5 January 2016.
Frequent-flyer program
[edit]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 theSkyTeamairline alliance. Silver Cedar, Golden Cedar, and President's Club members gain numerous benefits such as access to the Cedar Lounge atBeirut-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.[23]
Cedar Miles can be earned and redeemed on all MEA flights and on all flights operated byAir France,KLM,andQatar Airways,as well as codeshare partners on certain routes. Cedar Miles can also be earned during stays at allRotana Hotelsand allHertzcar rentals worldwide.[24]
Subsidiaries
[edit]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 acrossEuropeand theMiddle 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 afixed-base operatorcalledCedar Jet Centerat 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 theterminalstode-rubberisingthe 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 145EASA-approved MRO with full airframe check capabilities on theAirbusA300,A310,A320,andA330family aircraft. MASCO is also certified to carry outaircraft painting.
In addition, MEA owns 77.5% of theLebanese Beirut Airport Catering Company (LBACC),the only catering provider at Beirut International Airport.
Accidents and incidents
[edit]
- On 24 July 1950, an Air LibanDouglas DC-3,registration LR-AAN was shot at by an IsraeliSpitfire;the DC-3 landed safely at Beirut Airport, but 3 passengers (of 28 on board) were killed in the attack.[25]
- On 6 January 1952, Air LibanSNCASE LanguedocOD-ABU crashed on take-off fromBeirut 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 toKuwait Airport,Kuwait.[26]
- On 29 September 1958, Middle East AirlinesAvro YorkOD-ADB disappeared over the Mediterranean Sea with five on board.[27]
- On 1 February 1963,Flight 265,aVickers Viscount 754Dregistered OD-ADE, was involved in a mid-air collision withTurkish Air ForceC-47CBK28.Both aircraft crashed inAnkara,killing all 14 on board the Viscount, all 3 on board the C-47 and a further 87 people on the ground.[28]
- On 17 April 1964, Flight 444, operated bySud Caravelle IIIOD-AEM struck the sea nearDhahran,Saudi Arabia, killing all 49 on board; the cause of the accident was not determined.[29]
- On 21 April 1964, Middle East Airlines Vickers Viscount 754D OD-ACX was damaged beyond economic repair atEl Arish,Egypt after the taxiway it was taxiing on collapsed.[30]
- On 28 December 1968, seven[a]MEA aircraft were destroyed in araidbyIsraelicommandos at Beirut International Airport. This attack was in retaliation for aterrorist attackon anEl AlBoeing aircraft in Athens which killed an Israeli mechanic.[31]
- On 1 January 1976,Flight 438,operated byBoeing 720B 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 ongoingLebanese Civil War.[32]The aircraft crashed nearAl Qaysumah,Saudi Arabia.[33]
- On 12 June 1982, in response to the attempted assassination by the Abu Nidal Group of theIsraeli 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.[citation needed]
- On 21 August 1985, two MEA Boeing 720's (OD-AFL and OD-AGQ) were destroyed by shelling at Beirut International Airport.[34][35]
- On 8 January 1987,Boeing 707-323COD-AHB was destroyed by shelling after landing at Beirut International Airport.[36]
- On 16 November 2001, anAirbus A321-200,with the registration F-OHMP, was operating as Flight 304 from Beirut International Airport toCairo International Airportwhen 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 asMetrojet Flight 9268.[37]
See also
[edit]
- Lebanese identity card
- List of airports in Lebanon
- Lebanese passport
- SkyTeam
- Transport in Lebanon
- Visa policy of Lebanon
- Visa requirements for Lebanese citizens
Notes
[edit]- ^Vickers Viscount OD-ACT; Sud Caravelles OD-AEE and OD-AEF; de Havilland Comets OD-ADQ, OD-ADR and OD-ADS; Boeing 707 OD-AFC; and a Ghana Airways Vickers VC10 (9G-ABP) operating for MEA
References
[edit]- ^"Middle East Airlines Joins SkyTeam".SkyTeam.Archived fromthe originalon 2012-06-30.
- ^"MEA - Middle East Airlines on ch-aviation".ch-aviation.Retrieved2023-12-03.
- ^Kaminski-Morrow, David (24 November 2021)."MEA full-year financial performance hammered by successive calamities".Flightglobal.com.
- ^""Contact Info".Middle East Airlines.Archived fromthe originalon 2010-10-11.Retrieved20 December2010.
- ^"إتصل بنا".Middle East Airlines.Archived fromthe originalon 2011-01-03.Retrieved2 February2011.
- ^"Directory: World Airlines".Flight International.2007-04-10. p. 50.
- ^"SkyTeam Welcomes Middle East Airlines, Air Liban (MEA) Interest in SkyTeam Associate Program Governing Board supports carrier's application for Associate Airline status"(Press release). SkyTeam. 2006-01-16. Archived fromthe originalon 23 January 2011.Retrieved13 December2010.
- ^"mea – 1969 – 0102".Flight Archive.Archived fromthe originalon 2015-05-06.Retrieved24 April2015.
- ^"MEA Grounded over Pilot Strike, Releases Revised Tuesday Schedule".Naharnet.29 November 2011.Retrieved21 December2020.
- ^"History and Network | About Us | Middle East Airlines".www.mea.com.lb.Retrieved2022-03-28.
- ^"History and Network | About Us | Middle East Airlines".www.mea.com.lb.Retrieved2024-06-11.
- ^"Profile on Middle East Airlines".CAPA.Centre for Aviation. Archived fromthe originalon 2016-10-31.Retrieved2016-10-31.
- ^Ltd. 2018, UBM (UK)."Air Europa / MEA expands codeshare routes from June 2018".Routesonline.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^"MEA - Middle East Airlines | Codeshare flight".
- ^"MEA – Inauguration of Code Share Flights between KUWAIT and BEIRUT".MEA.Archived fromthe originalon 2018-03-16.
- ^"SNCF, the first rail partner of MEA"(Press release). MEA. 2 June 2006.Retrieved1 March2022.
- ^"Our Fleet | About Us | Middle East Airlines".www.mea.com.lb.Retrieved2023-11-11.
- ^"MEA firms up order for ten A320neo Family aircraft".MEA.9 January 2013.Retrieved21 December2020.
- ^"Middle East Airlines (MEA) receives its first Airbus A321neo".Airbus.10 July 2020.Retrieved1 March2022.
- ^"Airbus delivers A320 Family MSN10,000 to Middle East Airlines".Airbus.9 October 2020.Retrieved21 December2020.
- ^Sander, Daniel (12 December 2018)."Middle East Airlines Orders Four Airbus A330-900neo".Airways Magazine.Archived fromthe originalon 29 October 2021.Retrieved21 December2020.
- ^"Middle East Airlines orders four Airbus A321XLRs".Airbus.17 June 2019.Retrieved21 December2020.
- ^"Top Tier Privileges".Middle East Airlines.Retrieved1 March2022.
- ^"How To Earn Miles With Our Partners".MEA.Archived fromthe originalon 2011-12-31.
- ^Accident description for LR-AANat theAviation Safety Network.Retrieved on 2015-1-7.
- ^"OD-ABU Accident description".Aviation Safety Network.Flight Safety Foundation.Retrieved28 February2014.
- ^Accident description for OD-ADBat theAviation Safety Network.Retrieved on 2016-7-1.
- ^"Accident description".Aviation Safety Network.Flight Safety Foundation.Retrieved6 October2009.
- ^"Accident Report MEA Caravelle 17 APR 64".Aviation Safety Network.Archived fromthe originalon 2000-10-18.
- ^"Accident description".Aviation Safety Network.Flight Safety Foundation.Retrieved6 October2009.
- ^"Accident description".Aviation Safety Network.Flight Safety Foundation.Retrieved7 October2009.
- ^"All 82 Die as Lebanese Jet Crashes in Arabian Desert".The New York Times.2 January 1976.Retrieved5 October2020.
- ^"Criminal occurrence description".Aviation Safety Network.Flight Safety Foundation.Retrieved6 October2009.
- ^Accident description for OD-AFLat theAviation Safety Network.Retrieved on 2016-7-1.
- ^Accident description for OD-AGQat theAviation Safety Network.Retrieved on 2016-7-1.
- ^"Criminal Occurrence description".Aviation Safety Network.Flight Safety Foundation.Retrieved26 January2010.
- ^"Accident description: Middle East Airlines – MEA Airbus A321-231 F-OHMP".Aviation Safety Network.Flight Safety Foundation.Retrieved4 January2017.
External links
[edit]
Media related toMiddle East Airlinesat Wikimedia Commons
- Official website
- Official SkyTeam websiteArchived2012-11-03 at theWayback Machine
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| National | |
