Lebanese Aviation ✈ (MEA | Hariri Beirut International Airport)

[kinane]

Middle East Airlines orders ten A320neo Family aircraft ...

http://www.airbus.com/newsevents/new...mily-aircraft/

[AmeriLEB]

Excavation work on MEA training center starts

Center will offer state of the art training to pilots and crew from all over the region
Excavation work on the new MEA training center, that will also train pilots and cabin crew from all over the region has started. The new center, coming up next to Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport, will take three years to complete and will cost between $60 million and $80 million, an airline source said.

The cornerstone for the advanced flight training center was laid in November 2008 by Chairman of the MEA, Mohammad El-Hout and the Minister of Public Works and Transport, Ghazi Aridi. The center was first proposed by MEA's Chairman in early August 2008.

The training center will cover 20,000m2 of land area of which 10,000 square meters of building area, including three underground floors and three above ground floors

The center will offer state of the art flight simulators, cabin simulators, aircraft maintenance training, and commercial training on marketing, sales, reservations, and customer service. The center will include an auditorium, a library, classrooms, a clinic, a cafeteria, and underground parking.

The airlines last flight simulator, a B707 simulator, was stolen by Israeli forces in 1982 and taken back to Tel Aviv.

On a separate note, MEA formally joined the SkyTeam Alliance last month (June 28). The global airline alliance has 17 members, among these: Aeroflot, Aeroméxico, Air Europa, Air France, Alitalia, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Kenya Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air, Saudia, TAROM, and Vietnam Airlines.

Reported by Rana Freifer

[Rabih]

Ryanair set to open new Lebanese route
By MARK MAY
Published: Today at 02:28

RYANAIR is in talks over a hot new destination — the scorching LEBANON.

The low-cost airline is in discussions with tourism chiefs in the Middle East state in a bid to relaunch capital city Beirut’s status as the ‘Paris of the East’.

Although it is two decades since the civil war ended officials are still keen to improve the economy.

And currently Irish troops are helping to maintain a fragile peace near the southern border after the country’s bombardment by Israel in 2006.

Lebanese Tourism Minister Fady Abboud said: “We are talking to Monarch Airlines, easyJet and Ryanair — we’re talking to all of them.

“I have a complete plan that I want to introduce low-cost flights and chartered flights.

“The hotels are ready to give special prices. I don’t want to reinvent the wheel. If you need tourists, we’re going to have to fly them in. We cannot fly a tourist at €1,000 during this season and expect a lot of tourism.”

Political upheaval in Syria over the past year has taken its toll on Lebanon’s economy and tourism industry.

But the Lebanese may have a hard time convincing Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary to fly any closer to the Middle East than his scheduled flights to the island of Cyprus.

Marwan Boodai, group chairman of Kuwait-based low-cost carrier Jazeera Airways dismissed the plans.

He maintained the Beirut government was unlikely to be able to entice the Dublin-based low-cost carrier to enter the Middle East market.

He scoffed: “It won’t work. They will only do it when they have huge capacities. Governments should stick to financing.”

Ryanair was unavailable for comment on the Beirut tourism talks last night.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...ese-route.html

[AmeriLEB]

MEA exclusivity extension sparks Cabinet debate
National carrier’s passenger carrying
monopoly expires on September 14

Extending Middle East Airlines’ (MEA) exclusive local monopoly as passenger carrier for another 20 years sparked debate in Cabinet when it was presented for discussion by the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation. MEA’s exclusivity contract expires on September 14.

Mazen Bsat, owner of Med Airways, a local travel agency and former owner of a small airline, opposes MEA’s exclusivity: “Lebanon is the only country that still grants exclusivity to airlines. In the UAE there are at least five airline companies, the same goes for other Gulf countries.”

In 2001, the government decided to institute and open skies policy. Latest figures show that the share of foreign airlines in the local aviation market exceeds 65 percent. Bsat said any new local carrier will not take from MEA’s share but from foreign companies’ market share. “Passengers passing through (Beirut) airport totaled 5.6 million in 2011. New local airlines would take ten percent of foreign airlines’ share, that’s 350,000 passengers,” said Bsat.

Bsat said local airlines can be efficient as low-cost carriers. He said Med Airways used to operate four aircraft to destinations where MEA didn’t fly to, like Erbil, Baghdad, and Berlin. “Once MEA launched flights to these destinations, Med Airways was closed down and the airplanes sold,” Bsat said.

Advocates for extending the MEA’s monopoly said that local companies are incapable of offering the same services as MEA for the same price. According to the proposal forwarded by MEA, compliance with global security and safety requirements is too expensive and requires high skills. MEA’s operating profits dropped to $40 million in 2011, from $90 million in 2010.

Jean Zailaa, senior director at Nakhal travel agency, said the MEA’s exclusivity has its advantages and disadvantages. He said monopoly guarantees the continuity of the national carrier. “In such tough times, protecting MEA is important in order to preserve the company which is so far the only company able to undertake risks,” Zailaa said. He said MEA keeps flying out of the country even when foreign airlines stop due to heightened security risks.

“MEA keeps operating under all circumstances because it has a long-term agreement and this pushes it to undertake risks,” he said. “On the other hand, competition is in general healthy.”

The Minister of Public Works and Transportation, Ghazi Aridi, had on several occasions said the Cabinet would likely renew MEA’s exclusive rights. Lebanon granted MEA exclusivity in 1969 as the country’s only commercial airline. The original 20-year deal was extended until 2012.

Reported by Rania Ghanem

[AmeriLEB]

Hopes up for Kleiat airport revival
Private sector exploring economic return

The plan to bring back the Kleiat airport in Akkar resurfaced lately with both the public and the private sector expressing their interest in the project.

The Parliament’s Public Works and Transportation commission met on Tuesday to discuss the issue. The commission called on the ministerial committee tasked with studying the prospects of restoring the airport to submit its decision in one month. “The committee should declare its plan for executing the project, whether it decided to allocate a budget from the treasury, or run a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) scheme,” said MP Mohamad Kabbani, president of the commission.

Mohamad Choucair, president of the Chamber of Commerce (CCIAB), said he will visit the Kleiat airport this week to study the feasibility of using the airport for cargo and charter flights.
According to Kabbani, technical as well as political barriers need to be resolved before being able to operate the airport. “The airport requires some vital improvements, mainly the runway, buildings, and the roads leading to it,” Kabbani said. He said operating the airport is tied to appointing the Aviation Authority. He also said it requires an agreement with Syria, due to its proximity to its territories.

Kabbani said the decision to bring back the Kleiat airport is to be taken through a Cabinet decree. “So far there is no political decision to do so,” he said.

The cabinet announced, in January, plans to rehabilitate the Kleiat airport to be used for cargo and low-cost airlines. The renovation plan included building a 500 square meter duty free zone. The plan never materialized.

Earlier plans included privatizing the airport through a BOT contract. The initial value of the project was set at $180 million. Another proposal downsized the investment value to $80 million.
Reported by Hanadi Chami

[AmeriLEB]

Report: Development of Qlaiaat Airport Provides Thousands of Job Opportunities
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
by Naharnet Newsdesk 15 hours ago
Comment
28
W460

The transformation of the Qlaiaat airport in the North into a large-scale facility would provide 6,000 new job opportunities on the first year of its operation, An Nahar daily reported on Wednesday.

The number of jobs available would increase to 21,000 in 2018, according to studies that have also set the cost of putting the Rene Moawad airport back into operation at 90 million dollars.

The first stage of any such future project would include the rehabilitation of the runway, the buildings and fuel warehouses at a cost of 45 million dollars, An Nahar said.

The facility that lies only seven kilometers from the northern border with Syria lies on a land of 5.5 million square meters and is connected to major local and international highways.

According to experts, its location is more important than that of Beirut airport for lying in an area that is not easily affected by storms and climate change.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Najib Miqati tasked Public Works Minister Ghazi Aridi to prepare a feasibility study on the possibility of operating the airport after a suggestion by Finance Minister Mohammed Safadi to allow Middle East Airlines to use it.

MEA used to operate three internal flights per week between the North and Beirut in 1988-1989.

Qlaiaat airport saw some activity during the Lebanese Army’s battles with Fatah al-Islam militants in the Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared in 2007.

[wissarb]

Beirut Duty Free unveils high-class luxury goods store

Published: 25/09/12
Source: ©The Moodie Report
By Dermot Davitt



LEBANON. Beirut Duty Free has just opened its newly redesigned and refurbished store dedicated to watches, fashion and other luxury goods at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport.

The new store houses over 1,100sq m of retail space and the layout has been carefully designed to enhance passenger flow around the store, said the retailer.

Construction of the shops started in April following an extensive planning and design process. The focal point of the new retail area is watches and jewellery alongside a number of fashion & accessories boutiques including Montblanc, Furla, Longchamp and Pandora. These have already opened and will be joined by Ralph Lauren and Hermès in the coming months.



“The increased space has allowed us to expand our range of products in these buoyant categories and to showcase our luxury brands in the premium environment they deserve,” said Mohamad Zeidan, Chairman of Beirut Duty Free.

“I would like to express my gratitude to our suppliers who have been very supportive throughout the design and construction phase. Great credit is also due to my own team here at BDF, our external contractors for ensuring that the project was completed on time, and to all our stakeholders for the exacting standards they set,” he added.

“The stunning new stores have already stimulated greater passenger interest in these categories and conversion levels are likely to increase further in the coming months. Initial results have been very promising, especially for watches. As we complete the final touches and open the last couple of boutiques we are very optimistic for continued sales growth.”

Beirut Duty Free is managed by Phoenicia- Aer Rianta Management Company (PAM), a joint venture between Phoenicia Trading – Afro Asia and ARI Middle East.

[issamx5]

good thread!!

[pipolebnene]

i hope the whole airport gets bigger and more modern since the modernization should not stop for years as in beirut. great design i like it. 3a2bel el ba2e

[AmeriLEB]

British Airways foresees growth in the region
October 04, 2012 01:09 AM
By Elias Sakr
The Daily Star


BEIRUT: The airline industry is expected to continue its growth in the Middle East but at a slower pace than previous years, British Airways Middle East Commercial Manager Paolo De Renzis told The Daily Star Wednesday.

“I see growth due to strong demand, but I don’t know if it will continue at the same pace,” Renzis said during an interview held in Beirut’s eastern suburbs hours before the touchdown of the first British Airways plane at Rafik Hariri international airport since 1992.

British Airways began running flights to Lebanon in 1987, but ended operations five years later.

It is scheduled to resume functioning after the acquisition of British Midland International last April by International Airlines Group, the parent of British Airways.

Britain’s flagship airline is in the process of integrating BMI in the Middle East region, plans which the company hopes will be complete by the end of December when all new products will have been introduced, Renzis said.

“There are a lot of BMI routes in our patch and Beirut is one of those,” Renzis added.

In line with the Hariri airport’s open sky policy, British Airways customers will have access to a network of more than 20 destinations across the U.S. and Canada through London Heathrow airport’s Terminal 5, Renzis said.

British Airways will run daily flights during the winter season and 10 flights per week during summer.

Among market segments seeing growth in capacity is business, leisure and student traffic, Renzis said.

Asked about regional competition from mainly subsidized Gulf carriers, Renzis said: “We are used to fierce competition back home and we are doing well given our high quality products.”

With the exception of Bahrain, where flights were halted during February 2011 before gradually recovering to normal, Renzis said that British Airways has been coping well with the unrest in the Arab world, where it has largely sustained normal business operations.

However, British Airways has not reinstated flights to Damascus, after they were halted by BMI last May.

The airline will be operating a newly refurbished mid-haul A321 on the Beirut route.

The aircraft offers flat beds for those traveling in business class.

Those in economy class will be provided with individual on-demand televisions – fitted to the backs of seats.

The aircraft refits, which began in June, will be completed by December of this year.

Over the next five years, British Airways will be investing more than 5 billion pounds ($8.04 billion) globally in new aircrafts and improvements to its products, Renzis said.

British Airways has already invested 100 million pounds on more than 75 percent of its fleet.

[AmeriLEB]

British Airways returns to Beirut
Airline takes over BMI's operations

British Airways has resumed flights to Lebanon. The first BA commercial jet landed at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport on Wednesday (October 3), the first since 1992.

BA's mother company, International Airlines Group, acquired British Midland International (BMI) last April. BMI used to run flights between The UK and Beirut. The transition from BMI operated flights to British Airways ones will be complete by the end of this month.

Paolo De Renzis, British Airways' area commercial manager for the Middle East, said: “(This) flight marks an important step in the integration of BMI into British Airways’ operation.” Travelers flying with British Airways now have access to more destinations, better frequencies and more seats. British Airways operates ten weekly flights during the summer, and daily flights in winter between Beirut and London Heathrow.
Reported by Rania Ghanem

[Lebneni]

This kind of behavior is unacceptable and merits immediate action from MEA to make sure this kind of incident never happens again!

#Racism at #Beirut Airport ! my personal hands-on experience.

Yesterday on the 6th of October I was at gate 11 with a friend of mine waiting to board the Air Arabia flight at 20:25.

While waiting to board there was a group of foreign workers sitting with the rest of the passengers waiting for their turn. They were behaving normally as any other group of passengers would.

Then sadly, the lady (looking at her uniform she apparently works for MEA Ground Services and not Air Arabia) at the gate announced on loud speaker (over the whole system covering the airport) the following: “Filipino people stop talking” ; then she started giggling about it with the macho gentleman who was with her at the gate.

They continued their racist behavior by announcing again “Filipino Nepal people talking not allowed here” and on and on.

Shocked, I obviously became furious and approached them and explained that this racist and discriminatory behavior is not acceptable, impolite and does not at the least reflect what employees at Beirut Airport should stand for (not to imply it’s acceptance in any other situation of course).

This unfortunately sounded like a joke to them and they went on to say “we do whatever we want and we don’t care about what you are saying”, then “management doesn’t even want this kind of people on the flight” and “even if you complain this will be thrown away and we dare you to do anything about it”.

When I asked her “how would you feel if you ever wanted to travel to Europe and while queuing for your visa they told you the same thing?”, she replied “these people are different”; The macho gentleman seeing that his female friend, whom he was trying so hard to impress with his imitating giggles, was cornered with her twisted racist logic even went further to ask me to back off the counter and threatening to make a problem and to void my ticket!! When I asked for the complaint form they answered (While still laughing of course) “take it from the flight attendants and good luck sitting next to such people on the flight”

I did file an official complaint with Air Arabia and their staff was very helpful and promised to reach the message out to their management.

However Air Arabia is paying MEAG for such services and they need to use their power to do greater efforts too to ensure that the people behind this are held accountable. I also sent an email today to Mr. Richard Mujais from MEAG, explaining what happened and asked him to further discuss this with me and to show us that these employees were held accountable for such racist behavior.

Until then, and as a friend suggested that they also need to be exposed please help me exposing such intolerable behavior…

[Lebneni]

and as a reply this is all MEA had to say:

To our loyal fans and customers,

Having investigated the issue that occurred on the 6th October, 2012 at Rafik Hariri Intl. Airport - Beirut, which involved misbehavior by a MEAG (subsidiary of MEA) passenger service agent, we would like to issue the following statement.

This type of behavior represents an isolated case, and is 100% against MEA’s policy.

It does not fit within MEA’s culture, a
nd furthermore goes contrary to our training procedures.

Severe disciplinary action has been taken against the staff concerned.

Kindly rest assured that our goal is to attain the highest levels of customer satisfaction.

Yours sincerely,
The MEA Team

They didn't even bother explaining what the "severe" disciplinary action is! what a pathetic company!, however no one should be surprised as the action of the said employee is nothing but a reflection of the sick society where she comes from.

[lebz06]

Originally Posted by Lebneni

and as a reply this is all MEA had to say:

To our loyal fans and customers,

Having investigated the issue that occurred on the 6th October, 2012 at Rafik Hariri Intl. Airport - Beirut, which involved misbehavior by a MEAG (subsidiary of MEA) passenger service agent, we would like to issue the following statement.

This type of behavior represents an isolated case, and is 100% against MEA’s policy.

It does not fit within MEA’s culture, a
nd furthermore goes contrary to our training procedures.

Severe disciplinary action has been taken against the staff concerned.

Kindly rest assured that our goal is to attain the highest levels of customer satisfaction.

Yours sincerely,
The MEA Team

They didn't even bother explaining what the "severe" disciplinary action is! what a pathetic company!, however no one should be surprised as the action of the said employee is nothing but a reflection of the sick society where she comes from.

The employee was fired. http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Loc...#axzz28r9ZsiKH

[Lebneni]

this is based on some info by an anonymous MEA official, if it is true MEA should come out and declare it publicly that they fired her and that any other MEA staff acting the same way in the future will face the same punishment.

if and only if that happens i will be the first to apologize for calling MEA a pathetic company!

[B-Patriot]

Wow, power to the people (Lebneni)..

Does the departures duty free section have a foreign exchange counter yet? Its so weird everytime, theres only one ATM, which is inoperational every once in a while.. No Foreign Exchange counter.. And no real restaurants or cafes other than one upstairs i think, and a cheap cafeteria past security close to the waiting area and gates....

The duty free definately needs more work/attention, as it has a lot of unrealized potential imo...

[pipolebnene]

the problem is that the behavior of many workers at the airport is more than inappropriate. the police men/women at the passport control "amen el 3am" act as if the are anything better than the rest. i saw them many times how the deal with workers (from sri lanka, somalia or philippines) and its not how lebanon and lebanese should be as we say that we are open minded and have a nice culture, are modern and smart... beirut deserves more than that

[ramynasser]

we are the most racist community i have ever met.

[Lebneni]

Originally Posted by B-Patriot

Wow, power to the people (Lebneni)..

I wish i could take credit for starting this but i didn't, however I did my part and sent an email to MEA and to skyteam.

[AmeriLEB]

Lebanon’s Airport Attempts to Appease America

By: Mouhamad Wehbe

Published Saturday, October 13, 2012

On Friday, Maura Connelly, the US Ambassador to Lebanon, made an unusual visit to the offices of the Middle East Airlines (MEA), the Lebanese national carrier.

Connelly’s visit had not been declared in advance, and for reasons that are not clear, the media was not informed.

Observers surmise that this may have been a security precaution. The diplomat, accompanied by a security team, toured the carrier’s facilities, hangars and operations center, where they were briefed on sensitive matters that they are not entitled to know about.

There has been an American ban on MEA since the hijacking of a TWA American passenger plane at Beirut Airport in 1985.
Connelly’s visit to MEA’s offices was yet another breach of diplomatic norms in Lebanon. It also coincided with the incident that has preoccupied the Israelis over the past few days, involving Hezbollah’s drone “Ayoub” which flew over occupied Palestine for some time before it was downed by the Israeli air force.

Nevertheless, observers believe the timing of the visit was not chosen deliberately to coincide with the incident, since it was determined in advance. However, they said, the Americans exploited this to send a security team with the ambassador, rather than a delegation of economic experts.

At any rate, the visit is the result of efforts by the Minister of Public Works and Transport Ghazi al-Aridi, and CEO and General Manager of MEA, Mohamad al-Hout. These two officials were in Washington around 10 days earlier, where they met with officials from the US Department of Transportation (DoT).

Aridi and Hout requested the resumption of air transport relations between Lebanon and the United States. One expert familiar with the issue said, “Hout went seeking US recognition of Beirut Airport’s ability, and the adequacy of its safety standards, to receive American airplanes and fly MEA planes to the United States.”

There has been an American ban on MEA since the hijacking of a TWA American passenger plane at Beirut Airport in 1985. Following this incident, the airport was put on the US terror list. MEA flights were banned from US airports and American airliners no longer flew to the airport in Lebanon.

The expert revealed that Hout took detailed files on MEA and Beirut airport to the DoT in America, including information on public safety standards at the airport, the technology used in this regard, as well as current capabilities and other related information. The DoT officials were satisfied with the information Aridi and Hout provided about the Lebanese carrier and the airport.

Nevertheless, the Americans had several conditions for the resumption of air transport relations. A list of their requirements was put forward, in order to help Beirut airport conform to US public safety standards and for MEA flights to be approved and received in the US. MEA has joined the global airline alliance SkyTeam, and enforces the safety standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Hout returned immediately to Lebanon after the visit, to discuss the demands with the acting director general of the Civil Aviation Authority. The two men then agreed on the need to do whatever it takes to fulfill the conditions and standards of “American public safety” at the airport in Beirut.

The Bank of Lebanon, which owns a majority stake in the airline and supervises its board and CEO.
Hout’s efforts to appease the Americans did not stop here; he decided to take additional steps. Hout invited the ambassador to visit the MEA offices and examine firsthand the operations and standards at Beirut International Airport, in preparation for resuming direct flights between Lebanon and the United States. This happened at a private dinner attended by Connelly and several Lebanese figures including Riad Salameh, the Governor of the Bank of Lebanon, which owns a majority stake in the airline and supervises its board and CEO.

This is how it was decided that Connelly would visit MEA’s facilities, nearly a week ago. On Friday morning, Connelly came in a convoy of six SUVs to the MEA headquarters. A US delegation came with her, which Hout claimed to his associates was an economic team seeking to assess the financial feasibility of resuming flights between Lebanon and the United States.

For about an hour, Hout held a meeting in his office at the company's headquarters with Connelly and the delegation accompanying her. Afterwards, Hout took Connelly and the delegation on an inspection tour of the airline facilities, with a focus on the security operations at Beirut airport.

It soon became obvious to MEA staff and specialists that the delegation was not of an economic nature, and that its concerns were mostly about security, essentially concerning removing Beirut International Airport from the US terror list.
This article is an edited translation from the Arabic Edition.