Middle East Airlines Airliban S.A.L.
Lebanon's flag carrier, operating scheduled international services from Beirut.
Last updated October 7, 2026
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Overview
Middle East Airlines, formally Middle East Airlines–Air Liban S.A.L. and commonly known as MEA, is the flag carrier of Lebanon. Its principal base and head office are located at or near Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport, from which it operates scheduled international services linking Lebanon with destinations across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Asia. The airline is one of the country's most visible national institutions and plays a significant role in maintaining Lebanon's air links during periods of political instability, conflict, and disruption. MEA was established on 31 May 1945 by Saeb Salam and Fawzi El-Hoss, with operational and technical assistance from British Overseas Airways Corporation. Commercial operations began on 1 January 1946 with three de Havilland Dragon Rapide aircraft serving Beirut, Nicosia, and subsequently destinations in Iraq, Egypt, and Syria. The carrier expanded rapidly in the postwar period, acquiring Douglas DC-3 aircraft and developing a regional network. Pan American World Airways took a minority stake and management role in 1949, while BOAC acquired a substantial shareholding in 1955. These arrangements provided access to technical expertise, operating systems, and larger aircraft during the early development of Lebanese civil aviation. The airline entered the jet age with the introduction of the de Havilland Comet 4C in 1960. Its corporate structure changed repeatedly during the 1960s. MEA was merged with Air Liban in 1963, and it also absorbed Lebanese International Airways. The present Middle East Airlines–Air Liban identity emerged from these combinations, with the current commonly used name adopted in 1965. Air France held a minority interest after the merger, although that holding was later relinquished. MEA's development was repeatedly interrupted by regional conflict. The 1967 Arab–Israeli war and the 1968 Israeli raid on Beirut Airport caused extensive aircraft losses. The airline rebuilt its fleet with aircraft such as the Convair 990A and later operated Boeing 747 services, including long-haul links through London and Paris to New York. During the Lebanese Civil War from 1975 to 1991, Beirut airport closures, shelling, and attacks on aircraft and airport infrastructure severely affected operations. Nevertheless, MEA maintained a reduced and adaptable service whenever conditions permitted, reinforcing its role as a strategic national carrier. Following the civil war, the airline modernized around Airbus aircraft. Airbus A310s entered service in the 1990s, followed by the A321 and A330. It introduced self-service check-in facilities at Beirut in 2010 and subsequently pursued a fleet renewal program based on A321neo-family aircraft and wide-body Airbus aircraft. MEA joined SkyTeam on 28 June 2012 as the alliance's seventeenth member and its second member airline in the Middle East at that time. Its loyalty program, Cedar Miles, was reorganized into Blue Cedar, Silver Cedar, Golden Cedar, and President's Club tiers in preparation for alliance participation. The MEA group also encompasses aviation-support businesses. These include Middle East Airlines Ground Handling, Middle East Airports Services, Mideast Aircraft Services Company, Cedar Executive, and a majority interest in the Lebanese Beirut Airport Catering Company. Through these operations, the group participates in ground handling, airport services, aircraft maintenance, private aviation, and catering in addition to passenger transport. MEA's business model therefore extends beyond ticketed flights to a broader aviation-services platform centered on Beirut airport. The airline remains active as Lebanon's national carrier and continues to operate an international network subject to market conditions, airport access, and regional security. Its history combines commercial expansion, repeated fleet modernization, alliance integration, and operational resilience in a highly volatile environment.
History
Middle East Airlines was founded in Beirut in 1945 by Saeb Salam. The new carrier began with a small fleet and initially served destinations in Lebanon and neighboring countries. As commercial aviation expanded after the Second World War, MEA developed into Lebanon's principal international airline and became an important part of Beirut's emergence as a regional business and tourism center. The airline expanded its fleet and route network during the 1950s and 1960s. It operated several aircraft types associated with the growth of jet aviation, including Boeing 707s and Boeing 720s, and later introduced wide-body aircraft for higher-capacity international services. During this period, MEA built a network linking Beirut with European, Middle Eastern and African cities. Its role was particularly important because Lebanon's economy depended heavily on trade, tourism, banking and connections with a large overseas Lebanese community. Civil conflict severely disrupted the company. During the Lebanese Civil War, MEA's aircraft, offices and airport operations were exposed to fighting and repeated airport closures. The airline used aircraft relocations and other protective measures to preserve its fleet. In 1982, following the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, MEA moved aircraft to Larnaca in Cyprus. The company subsequently returned to Beirut and continued rebuilding its operation despite the difficult security environment. The postwar period brought renewed fleet and organizational modernization. MEA progressively replaced older aircraft with Airbus equipment, including A310, A321, A320-family and A330 aircraft. Airbus fleet commonality simplified training and maintenance while allowing the airline to serve both regional destinations and longer international routes. From 1998, Mohammad El-Hout became the central figure in the carrier's management and was associated with restructuring, fleet renewal and a more commercially focused operating model. Banque du Liban became the airline's controlling shareholder. This ownership structure gave MEA a special position among Lebanese companies: it remained an airline managed on commercial principles, but its ownership was linked to the country's central bank and its national infrastructure role. The carrier has periodically been discussed in relation to privatization and changes in ownership, yet it has continued to operate as Lebanon's flag carrier. MEA joined SkyTeam in 2012. The alliance membership expanded its international reach through connections with partner airlines and provided reciprocal loyalty and airport-service benefits on qualifying itineraries. It also marked the airline as the first SkyTeam member headquartered in the Levant. In parallel, MEA continued to rely on its own Beirut-centered schedule and bilateral airline agreements. Regional crises continued to affect operations. During the 2006 Lebanon War, MEA again moved aircraft away from Beirut to reduce the risk of fleet losses and to preserve the possibility of restarting service. Later periods of unrest, economic deterioration and regional conflict created additional operational and financial pressure. The airline has nevertheless remained active, and its service has often been treated as an indicator of Lebanon's access to the outside world. In the contemporary period, MEA operates a predominantly Airbus fleet and focuses on scheduled passenger services from Beirut to the Middle East, Gulf, European and African markets. It also carries cargo and provides frequent-flyer and related travel services. The airline's future is shaped by the condition of Lebanon's economy, fuel and foreign-exchange costs, airport capacity, competition from Gulf and regional carriers, and the security environment. Its enduring strengths are its national-carrier status, established brand, Beirut hub, diaspora demand and alliance relationships.
- 2012
Joined SkyTeam
[3]MEA became a member of the SkyTeam airline alliance, expanding connecting opportunities and reciprocal customer benefits.
- 2006
Aircraft relocated during the Lebanon War
[2]The airline moved aircraft away from Beirut during the 2006 conflict, repeating a fleet-protection strategy used during earlier crises.
- 1998
Mohammad El-Hout leadership begins
[1]Mohammad El-Hout became chairman and director general, beginning a long period associated with restructuring and fleet modernization.
- 1982
Fleet relocated during the Lebanon conflict
[2]MEA moved aircraft to Cyprus during the Israeli invasion of Lebanon to protect the fleet and preserve its ability to resume operations.
- 1963
Merger with Air Liban
[2]Middle East Airlines merged with Air Liban and adopted the corporate name Middle East Airlines Air Liban.
- 1955
Air Liban relationship established
[2]MEA acquired an interest in Air Liban, a development that contributed to the later consolidation of Lebanon's principal airline operations under the MEA name.
- 1945
Airline founded
[2]Saeb Salam founded Middle East Airlines in Beirut, creating the carrier that would become Lebanon's national airline.
Products and positioning
Lebanon's national flag carrier, positioned around Beirut connectivity, Lebanese national identity, regional expertise and links to the Lebanese diaspora.
Airline transportation · 1945
Scheduled passenger services
MEA's core business is scheduled passenger transportation from Beirut to destinations in the Middle East, the Gulf, Europe and Africa. The network is designed around Lebanon's international travel needs, including business, tourism, visiting-friends-and-relatives and diaspora traffic. Cabin offerings have generally included economy and business class, with service characteristics varying by route and aircraft.
Cargo transportation
Air cargo
The airline carries air freight through the belly capacity of its passenger aircraft and associated cargo arrangements. Cargo supports Lebanese import and export activity and provides additional utility on routes where dedicated freighter operations would not be economical.
Frequent-flyer program
Cedar Miles
Cedar Miles is MEA's loyalty program. It rewards eligible travel with MEA and participating partners and is intended to retain frequent business, leisure and diaspora travelers. Benefits and program conditions are subject to the airline's current rules.
Brand decisions
2012
SkyTeam membershipM&ABackground
MEA sought broader international connectivity and stronger access to partner networks while retaining Beirut as its operating base.
Action taken
The airline joined SkyTeam and entered the alliance's cooperation framework.
Aftermath
Membership provided access to alliance connections and reciprocal customer benefits and strengthened MEA's profile as a Levant-based international carrier.
Recent events
- 2025
MEA announces planned low-cost subsidiary Fly Beirut[2]
Product launch
The airline announced plans for a MEA-managed low-cost subsidiary called Fly Beirut, with a proposed 2027 launch and a planned base at Rene Mouawad Airport in northern Lebanon.
- 2012
Middle East Airlines joins SkyTeam[2]
Other
MEA formally entered the SkyTeam alliance, becoming the alliance's seventeenth member and its second member based in the Middle East.
- 2011
MEA pilots' union stages a 48-hour strike[2]
Other
The pilots' union conducted a two-day strike after the dismissal of a captain who had been receiving cancer treatment and had taken sick leave. The dispute brought labor relations and employment practices at the airline into public focus.
Sources4 sources
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