Middle East Airlines – Air Liban S.A.L. (Arabic: طيران الشرق الأوسط ـ الخطوط الجوية اللبنانيةtayyarān al-Sharq al-Awsat - al-Khutut al-Jawwiyyah al-Libnāniyyah), more commonly known as Middle East Airlines (MEA) (Arabic: طيران الشرق الأوسطtayyarān al-Sharq al-Awsat), is the national flag-carrierairline of Lebanon, with its head office in Beirut,[4] near Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport.[5] It operates scheduled international flights to Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa from its base at Rafic Hariri International Airport.[6]
Middle East Airlines (MEA) is a member of the SkyTeam airline alliance, the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO), and the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The airline expressed its interest in becoming a SkyTeam associate member in early 2006 at a press conference in New York.[7]
On 28 February 2011, MEA officially signed the partnership agreement with SkyTeam in an official ceremony in Beirut. On 28 June 2012, MEA officially joined SkyTeam to become its 17th member, as well as its second member airline in the Middle East.[1]
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.
The current name was adopted in November 1965 when the airline was completely 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,[8] 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 to the realities of war in Lebanon between 1975 and 1991 and despite multiple closures of the base at Beirut International Airport, was able to continue operating against all odds. Airbus A310-300s were acquired in 1993 and 1994, followed by an A321-200 and the A330-200 (which replaced the A310s). From 1998 to 2002, MEA implemented its largest restructuring program ever which helped to turn it around from a loss-making airline to a profitable one by 2003.
On June 28, 2012, Middle East Airlines joined the SkyTeam alliance to become its 17th member and the second in the Middle East following Saudia.
The airline has introduced self check-in kiosks at Beirut's international airport as of July 2010. The airline is also planning on launching the Arabesk Airline Alliance with six other Arab carriers. Their future plans include floating about 25% of their shares on the Beirut Stock Exchange (BSE) as part of a long-term plan to fully privatize the airline.
A majority of the airline is owned by the central bank of Lebanon, Banque du Liban, (99.50%) and employs around 5,000 staff group-wide (as of February 2009). In November 2011, the chairman unlawfully terminated the employment of a pilot who had cancer. This has forced the pilot union to go on strike as of November 29, 2011.[9]
MEA offers only two classes of travel on all of its flights: Business Class (which is called Cedar Class) and Economy Class. Neither First Class nor Premium Economy Class are offered.
Middle East Airlines flies to the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. Copenhagen, Medina and Nice are destinations that are served seasonally. MEA also operates charter flights to leisure destinations in various countries, serving cities such as Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman, and Rhodes.
9 aircraft powered by IAE V2500 engines, 4 aircraft powered by CFM56 engines, T7-MRE and T7-MRF fitted with sharklets. T7-MRD is also fitted with Sharklets but wearing the SkyTeam livery.
First airline in the Middle East to operate the Airbus A321. OD-RMI painted in a special retro livery from the 1950s. The 2 current aircraft will receive a cabin upgrade.
During an interview in March 2007 with MEA, Chairman Mr. Mohamad El-Hout indicated that the airline had 3 Airbus A330s and 4 Airbus A319s (later converted to A320s) on order and that the airline will start taking delivery of the first aircraft in May 2007, another in 2009, and the last three in 2010.[citation needed]
On June 27 2007, MEA announced it will be taking a $60,000,000 loan from the Lebanese bank Fransabank to purchase 2 Airbus A320s. The loan would be repaid over a 10-year period.
In early October 2007, MEA announced a modified livery for its fleet as well as an increase of its A320 order from 4 to 6 aircraft.
In November 2009, MEA placed an order for an Airbus A319 with delivery expected late 2010 to early 2011, but this was later converted to another A320 order.
MEA received the 5000th Airbus A320 (registration OD-MRL) built on January 20, 2012.[13]
In 2012, MEA confirmed an order for 5 Airbus A320neo and 5 Airbus A321neo along with 8 options. The delivery of the 10 aircraft is expected in 2018. This order's cost is $1.05 billion.
MEA received its eleventh Airbus A320-200 on 2 October 2013. Also the first in a "Skyteam" livery and equipped with sharklets.
In May 2015, MEA confirmed an order for an Embraer Legacy 500 along with an option for another jet of the same model.
In May 2015, MEA painted an A321 in the retro livery to celebrate MEA's 70th anniversary
On 31 March 2016, MEA received its thirteenth Airbus A320-200. It is also MEA's ninth Airbus A320 powered by IAE V2500 engines. In addition, it is MEA's tewntieth aircraft and third Airbus A320 equipped with sharklets.
Frequent-flyer program
In 2011, Middle East Airlines 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 also include guaranteed seat reservation in economy as well as other extra benefits.[14]
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.[15]
Only MEA and MEA codeshare flights earn qualifying miles which count towards advancing from Basic to Prestige and from Prestige to Elite. Cedar Class tickets earn double the miles traveled and full-fare Economy Class tickets earn a 25% bonus on miles traveled.
In conjunction with Bank Audi, MEA offers two Cedar Miles MasterCard credit cards: Classic and Platinum.
Additionally, BankMed offers the MedMiles program in collaboration with MEA. The VISA credit cards come in 5 forms: Classic, Gold, Platinum, Signature, and Infinite.
For corporate customers, MEA offers a Cedar Miles Visa Corporate credit card, also in conjunction with Bank Audi.[15]
Subsidiaries
MEA owns the following subsidiaries, which are operated independently
Founded in January 2016, Cedar Executive is a private jet service based at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport which operates business flights all over Europe and the Middle East. Clients stay in a luxury lounge upon arrival to the airport and prior to boarding. Then, they are then transported to the private jet by a chauffeured car. The aircraft used is an Embraer Legacy 500.
Middle East Airlines Ground Handling (MEAG)File:MEAGlogo.svg This file may be deleted after Saturday, 7 May 2016.
Founded in 1955, MASCO is the only fully fledged aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul provider at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport. MASCO is a part 145 EASA-approved MRO with full airframe check capabilities on the AirbusA300, A310, A320, and A330 family aircraft. In addition, MASCO is certified to performing painting on all types of aircraft.
In addition to the four wholly owned subsidiaries above, MEA owns 77.5% of the Lebanese Beirut Airport Catering Company (LBACC) which is the only catering provider at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport with capacity of 20,000 meals/day
On 24 July 1950, an Air Liban Douglas C-47 Skytrain, registration LR-AAN was shot at by an Israeli Spitfire fighter; the C-47 landed safely at Beirut Airport, but three passengers (of 28 on board) were killed in the attack.[16]
On 6 January 1952, Air Liban SNCASE Languedoc 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.[17]
On 1 February 1963, Flight 263, operated by Vickers Viscount 754D OD-ADE was involved in a mid-air collision with Turkish Air ForceC-47CBK28. Both aircraft crashed in Ankara, killing all 14 on board the Viscount, all three on board the C-47 and a further 87 people on the ground.[18]
On 17 April 1964, Flight 444, operated by Sud Caravelle III OD-AEM struck the sea near Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, killing all 49 on board; the cause of the accident was not determined.[19]
On 21 April 1964, Middle East Airlines Vickers Viscount 754D OD-ACX was damaged beyond economic repair at El Arish, Egypt after the taxiway it was taxiing on collapsed.[20]
On 28 December 1968, seven [a] MEA aircraft were destroyed in a raid by Israeli Commandos at Beirut International Airport. This attack was in retaliation for a terrorist attack on a Boeing aircraft in Athens.[21]
On 1 January 1976, Flight 438, operated by Boeing 720B OD-AFT broke up in mid-air after a bomb was allegedly placed in the forward cargo compartment exploded. All 81 people on board were killed. The aircraft crashed near Al Qaysumah, Saudi Arabia.[22]
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 720's 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 Middle East Airlines Boeing 720's (OD-AFL and OD-AGQ) were destroyed by shelling at Beirut International Airport.[citation needed]
On 14 September 2014, an MEA aircraft was forced to conduct an emergency landing in Rome because of a talk about an onboard explosive device which quickly spread. The A320-200 was en route from Geneva to Beirut when two Italian warplanes rushed to meet the airliner and force it to land. The aircraft landed safely.[24]
^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
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US$800,000,000 (2015) [3]
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