On May 31, 2015, Lebanon-based Middle East Airlines (MEA) will celebrate the 70th anniversary of its foundation and is celebrating the milestone among other festivities by introducing a special retro livery onboard one of its Airbus A321 airliners. The aircraft emerged in the historic colour scheme last week at the carrier’s main hub at Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut.
The carrier was officially founded on May 31, 1945 and launched its first services from Beirut to the neighbouring cities of Syria, Cyprus, Egypt then Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other destinations in the Gulf from January 1, 1946. The regional operations were extended in the early 1960s after the after the merger with Air Liban in 1963 and new destinations in Europe and North Africa were added to its network, as well as additional points across the Middle East.
Despite a challenging period between the mid-1970s and late 1980s after the closure of Beirut International Airport during Lebanon’s civil war between 1975 and 1990, MEA managed to survive by leasing out its aircraft and seconding staff to other operators. With the return to normality in 1990, MEA succeeded in reinstating service to all its previous destinations, as well as strengthened and improved its network to Europe, Middle East and the Gulf.
Over this and the subsequent decade the airline’s development continued until it was again hit by conflict in its home country and was forced to move its operations first to Damascus International Airport in Syria and later to Amman’s Queen Allia International Airport in Jordan in 2006 after an air blockade stopped it serving the Lebanese capital.
Despite the challenging conditions it has faced during its 70 years, MEA has remained bearer of the Cedar of Lebanon to all areas of the world and it took its place on the global stage in June 2012 when it was welcomed as a full member into the SkyTeam airline alliance.
(Image via Skyliner)
Related Content
