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, 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 in 1997 and the A330-200 in 2003. 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.
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 as part of a long-term plan to fully privatize the airline.
A majority of the airline is 99.50% owned by the central bank of Lebanon and employs around 5,000 staff group-wide. In November 2011, the chairman unlawfully terminated the a pilot who had cancer. This has forced the pilot union to go on strike as of 29 November 2011.
Destinations
Middle East Airlines flies to 33 destinations in the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. Medina and Nice are destinations that are served seasonally.
Codeshare agreements
MEA has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:
During an interview in March 2007 with MEA, Chairman Mr. Mohamad El-Hout indicated that the airline had three Airbus A330s and four Airbus A319s on order and that the airline would start taking delivery of the first aircraft in May 2007, another in 2009, and the last three in 2010.
On 27 June 2007, MEA announced it would be taking a $60,000,000 loan from the Lebanese bank Fransabank to purchase two 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 four to six 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.
In 2012, MEA confirmed an order for five Airbus A320neos and five Airbus A321neos along with eight options. All aircraft will be equipped with Wi-Fi, with the first delivery expected in 2019.
MEA received its eleventh Airbus A320-200 on 2 October 2013, painted in a "Skyteam" livery.
On 5 January 2016, the MEA Group took delivery of an Embraer Legacy 500business jet, to be operated by Cedar Executive, a Middle East Airlines subsidiary.
On 28 December 2016, the airline revealed the purchase of an additional Airbus A330-200 aircraft.
On 28 June 2017, the MEA group took delivery of a second Embraer Legacy 500 to be operated by Cedar Executive, a Middle East Airlines subsidiary.
On 6 April 2018, Chairman Mohamad El Hout confirmed that MEA will purchase four additional wide-body aircraft with the possibility of an additional four options. The airline would choose between the Airbus A330-900neo and the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.
On 12 December 2018, MEA Chairman Mohamad El Hout signed an agreement with Rolls Royce, the sole engine supplier of the Airbus A330neo opting for 4 aircraft of the Airbus A330-900neo variant.
On 17 June 2019, during Paris Air Show, Middle East Airlines signed a firm order for four Airbus A321XLR, making it the launch customer of the aircraft type.
On 10 July 2020, Middle East Airlines took the delivery of its first Airbus A321NEO plane equipped with the most advanced state of the art inflight entertainment system with WIFI connectivity. The plane registered T7-ME1 is one of nine planes that will be delivered to MEA during 2020 allowing it to rapidly phase out older Airbus A320s units especially leased ones.
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. 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.
Subsidiaries
MEA owns the following subsidiaries, which are operated independently
Cedar Executive
Middle East Airlines Ground Handling Middle East Airports Services Mideast Aircraft Services Company
Lebanese Beirut Airport Catering Company ''' which is the only catering provider at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport with a production capacity of 20,000 meals per day.
Accidents and incidents
On 24 July 1950, an Air Liban Douglas DC-3, registration LR-AAN was shot at by an Israeli Spitfire fighter; the DC-3 landed safely at Beirut Airport, but 3 passengers were killed in the attack.
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.
On 29 September 1958, Middle East Airlines Avro York OD-ADB disappeared over the Mediterranean Sea with five on board.
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.
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.
On 28 December 1968, seven 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.
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.
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 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.
On 21 August 1985, two MEA Boeing 720's were destroyed by shelling at Beirut International Airport.
On 8 January 1987, Boeing 707-323C OD-AHB was destroyed by shelling after landing at Beirut International Airport.
On 16 November 2001 an Airbus A321-200, with the registration 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 the same airframe that broke up midflight in MetroJet Flight 9268.
