Middle East Airlines

Middle East Airlines – Air Liban
طيران الشرق الأوسط ـ الخطوط الجوية اللبنانية
IATA ICAO Callsign
ME MEA CEDAR JET
Founded May 31, 1945 (1945-05-31)
Commenced operations January 1, 1946 (1946-01-01)
AOC # MEA-A001
Hubs Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport
Frequent-flyer program Cedar Miles
Airport lounge Cedar Lounge
Alliance SkyTeam[1]
Subsidiaries
  • Cedar Executive
  • Lebanese Beirut Airport Catering Company (LBACC) (77.5%)
  • Middle East Airlines Ground Handling (MEAG)
  • Middle East Airports Services (MEAS)
  • Mideast Aircraft Services Company (MASCO)
Fleet size 20
Destinations 31[2]
Company slogan From Lebanon to the World
Parent company Banque du Liban
Headquarters Beirut, Lebanon
Key people Mohammed El-Hout (Chairman & Director General)
Net income Increase US$800,000,000 (2015) [3]
Website www.mea.com.lb
A Middle East Airlines Convair 990A at London Heathrow Airport in 1970
A Middle East Airlines Boeing 747-200 in 1984
Middle East Airlines office in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, Paris

Middle East Airlines – Air Liban S.A.L. (Arabic: طيران الشرق الأوسط ـ الخطوط الجوية اللبنانية tayyarān al-Sharq al-Awsat - al-Khutut al-Jawwiyyah al-Libnāniyyah), more commonly known as Middle East Airlines (MEA) (Arabic: طيران الشرق الأوسط tayyarān al-Sharq al-Awsat), is the national flag-carrier airline 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]

History

Middle East Airlines 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 fleet was modernised with the addition of three Sud Aviation Caravelles, in April 1963; three Boeing 720Bs, in January 1966; one leased Vickers VC10, in March 1967; and a number of Boeing 707-320Cs, from November 1967.

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.

Destinations

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.

A Middle East Airlines Airbus A321-200 in retro livery at Geneva Airport in 2015

Codeshare agreements

MEA has codeshare agreements with the following airlines as of September 2014:[10]

MEA also participates in SNCF's (French National Railways) tgvair program.

Fleet

A Middle East Airlines Airbus A330-200 takes off from London Heathrow Airport in 2015
A Middle East Airlines Airbus A320-200 on short final to Frankfurt Airport in 2014

As of March 2016, the MEA fleet and its subsidiary, Cedar Executive consists of the following aircraft:[11][12]

Middle East Airlines fleet
Aircraft In Service Orders Options Passengers Notes
J Y Total
Airbus A320-200 13 24 102 126 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.
Airbus A320neo 5
150 (2-class)
Deliveries begin in 2018.
Airbus A321-200 2 31 118 149 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.
Airbus A321neo 5 8 185 (2-class) Deliveries begin in 2018.
Airbus A330-200 4 1 1 44 200 244 All of MEA's Airbus A330s are powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines.
Cedar Executive fleet
Embraer Legacy 500 1 12 12
Total 20 11 9

Fleet development

Middle East Airlines economy class A320 and A330 In-Flight Entertainment System

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


This file is a candidate for speedy deletion. It may be deleted after Saturday, 7 May 2016.
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.
Founded in 1999, MEAG is the main ground handling agent at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport handling nearly 80% of all traffic. MEAG also operates a fixed base operator called Cedar Jet Center at the General Aviation Terminal.
Founded in 1998, MEAS is responsible for the operation and maintenance of Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport conducting many services ranging from cleaning the terminal to de-rubberising the runways.
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 Airbus A300, A310, A320, and A330 family aircraft. In addition, MASCO is certified to performing painting on all types of aircraft.

Accidents and incidents

An MEA aircraft was destroyed during a confrontation between the Israelis and the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1982

See also

Notes

  1. 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

  1. 1 2 Middle East Airlines Joins SkyTeam
  2. Route Map. MEA. Retrieved on 2014-04-02.
  3. "Lebanon’s MEA ranks 18th carrier in world in terms of net profits".
  4. "Contact Info." Middle East Airlines. Retrieved on 20 December 2010. "MEA Head Office P.O.BOX: 11-206 Airport Road, Beirut, Lebanon 1107-2801." Address in French: "Boulevard de l'Aéroport - Code 0111 Beyrouth , Liban."
  5. "إتصل بنا." Middle East Airlines. Retrieved on 2 February 2011. "طريق مطار رفيق الحريري الدولي ـ بيروت، لبنان"
  6. "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 2007-04-10. p. 50.
  7. "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. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
  8. "mea - 1969 - 0102 - Flight Archive". Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  9. Middle East Airlines AirLiban, MEA. Zawya.com (2010-04-30). Retrieved on 2010-12-14.
  10. "Codeshare 201108.pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  11. Flight International 2008 World Airliner Census. Retrieved 21 January 2009.
  12. "MEA - Middle East Airlines Fleet Details and History". Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  13. "Press release - Airbus, a leading aircraft manufacturer". Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  14. Earning Frequent Flyer Miles
  15. 1 2 Frequent Flyer Partners
  16. Accident description for LR-AAN at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 2015-1-7.
  17. "OD-ABU Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  18. "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  19. "Middle East Airlines SE 210 Caravelle III OD-AEM accident at sea 10 NM SSE of Dhahran Airport, Saudi Arabia on 17 April 1964." (Archive) Committee of Accident Investigation convened by the Superintendent Director General of Civil Aviation, Saudi Arabia. July 1964. Prepared by Harro Ranter, Aviation Safety Network. Source: Aircraft Accident Digest No.16 (ICAO Circular 82-AN/69) page 151-161.
  20. "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  21. "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 7 October 2009.
  22. "Criminal occurrence description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  23. "Criminal Occurrence description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
  24. "MEA Flight Returns to Beirut after 'Precautionary' Landing in Rome". Retrieved 2015-08-23.

External links

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