Middle East Airlines

Middle East Airlines – Air Liban S.A.L. serves as the national flag carrier of Lebanon, operating a hub-and-spoke network from its primary base at Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut. The company provides scheduled international passenger and cargo services, positioning itself as a premium full-service carrier connecting the Levant with major destinations across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. It maintains a modern narrow-body and wide-body fleet, supported by dedicated training and maintenance facilities in Lebanon. The airline is a prominent member of the SkyTeam global alliance, facilitating codeshare agreements and integrated loyalty programmes with international partners. Its fleet composition is primarily centred on Airbus platforms, including the A320 and A330 families, with commitments for the A321neo and A321XLR to support long-range expansion. The majority ownership of the company is held by the Banque du Liban, the country’s central bank, which provides a unique sovereign-backed corporate structure. Prospective commercial partners or technical vendors should verify the carrier's current operational status and insurance coverage relative to regional geopolitical stability. Performance assessments should include a review of their safety compliance under EASA and ICAO standards, alongside their fleet modernisation schedule. Due to the specific economic environment in Lebanon, buyers must ensure financial settlements are conducted through established international banking channels to mitigate local currency volatility.