The second new A330 aircraft, state-of-the-art and top in its class, arrived at Rafik Hariri International Airport-Beirut on February the 6th at 13:50 from Toulouse, France. It is the first aircraft to be registered in Lebanon since 30 years under the registration number OD MEA.

MEA has chosen a spacious layout for its new A330, consisting of 44 seats in Cedar Class and 200 seats in Economy Class.

MEA is expecting to receive the third new A330 in March 2009 and the fourth new A330 in May 2009.

Banque Libano-Française partners with MEA

Banque Libano-Française and Middle East Airlines - Air Liban (MEA) have executed a USD 65 million acquisition finance transaction for the purchase of a new Airbus A330-200 aircraft to be delivered in February 2009. The agreement was signed at the Bank's Head Office, by Chairman-General Manager of Banque Libano-Française, Mr. Farid Raphaël, and Chairman- Director General of MEA, Mr. Mohamad El Hout. Banque Libano-Française has also committed to finance the purchase of an additional aircraft, an Airbus 320-200 to be delivered in 2010 for an amount of USD 32 million.

On this occasion Mr. Farid Raphaël stated "pursuant to its commitment to developing the national economy, Banque Libano-Française is contributing in supporting the transport and tourism sectors through increasing the capacity and productivity of the national airline company. Middle East Airlines has made a fabulous turnaround. This transaction underlines our belief in the vision and expansion strategy of MEA".

Banque Libano-Française is a dynamic participant in the Lebanese economy and has actively contributed to the country's reconstruction effort.  It has arranged several large syndicated loans for financing Lebanon's main reconstruction projects and has advised and financed its clients in the development of their businesses in Lebanon and abroad.

Mr. Mohamad Al Hout, Chairman of MEA, said we approach the dusk of winter and the dawn of spring.
If the spring season carries tidings of joy to Lebanon, then the spring of MEA carries six new aircraft set to join the carrier's constantly renewed air fleet (MEA will take delivery of the new aircraft starting January and ending May 2009). The six new aircraft comprise three Airbus A330-200 aircraft to replace the current aircraft and to operate on the same routes, and three Airbus A320-200 to be used for expanding the MEA route network, which by the end of March, will have doubled its daily flights to Dubai, Cairo, and Amman at the rate of one morning flight and one evening flight.

After flights to Italy were limited to a Beirut-Rome-Milano-Beirut route, they will, towards the end of March 2009, expand to four weekly flights with a Beirut-Milano-Beirut route and four other weekly flights with a Beirut-Rome-Beirut route. As such, MEA will be operating separate nonstop flights to both Rome and Milano.

MEA's message remains: always preserving the highest standards of safety and security as well as ensuring passenger comfort on board the most modern aircraft, and in its aircraft's spacious cabins, serviced exclusively by Lebanese crew.

This is what distinguishes MEA: humanly and technically to provide the finest service for its large family.

Hoping to welcome you on board once again...constantly with every permanent new development from MEA, so that the carrier is your home on land and your home in the skies, preserving the safety, leisure, and satisfaction of all of you...its family.