Middle East Airlines: How the Airline That Never Stopped Flies

History and positioning

Founded in 1945, Middle East Airlines went through fifteen years of Lebanese civil war without ever fully halting operations, a trait that profoundly shaped the airline's operating culture. In more recent years it has faced the 2020 Beirut port explosion and the Lebanese economic and currency crisis with the same logic of continuity, keeping the country's air links with the rest of the world going even in the most difficult moments.

The fleet

The fleet is made up entirely of Airbus aircraft, with A320 and A321 on short-to-medium haul and A330 on the longest intercontinental routes, a choice of uniformity that simplifies the operational management of an airline that is relatively small in number of aircraft but with a strategic role out of proportion to the size of its fleet.

Routes and network

From the Beirut hub, the network mainly connects the Gulf, Europe and West Africa, with a central role in maintaining ties between Lebanon and its vast diaspora spread around the world. Joining SkyTeam in 2012 widened connection options for passengers transiting to and from Beirut via the alliance's partners.

What passengers say

What people like:

• Surprising operational reliability given the country's context, often highlighted by those who fly regularly to Beirut.
• Polished cabin service, with a strong Lebanese identity even in the catering.

What leaves something to be desired:

• A relatively small network compared with the big Gulf carriers in the same geographic areas.
• Possible schedule changes tied to the unstable operating environment at Beirut airport.

Middle East Airlines is a reliable choice for those who need to reach Beirut or use it as a stopover to the Gulf or West Africa, with a level of operational continuity that is rare for the context in which it operates. It is less suitable for those looking for the widest network to Asia or the Americas, where the network remains limited compared with the big international carriers. A practical tip: given the situation in the country, it is always worth checking in the days immediately before departure for any specific operational notices about Beirut airport, in addition to the usual flight information.