Middle East Airlines

MiddleEast Airlines (MEA), also known by its alias, is the national carrier of Lebanon and operates scheduled passenger and cargo air transport services from its hub at Beirut‑Rafic Hariri International Airport. The airline provides connectivity to a range of destinations across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Asia, facilitating both business travel and tourism as well as the movement of goods. As a flag carrier, MEA represents Lebanon in international aviation forums and adheres to the safety and operational standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization and regional aviation authorities. Its core business revolves around offering reliable air service that supports the country’s economic links with the wider world, and it maintains a presence in the global airline industry through codeshare agreements and interline partnerships with other carriers.

In terms of scale, MEA is recognized as the primary airline serving Lebanon and has historically been the main conduit for international air travel to and from the country. The airline is state‑owned, with its ultimate ownership resting with the Lebanese government, and it functions under the oversight of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport. A distinguishing attribute of MEA is its role as a symbol of national resilience, continuing to operate despite periodic regional challenges. The airline also participated in the Arab Air Carriers Organization, reflecting its engagement with regional aviation cooperation. Notably, in September 2018 MEA was identified as a target of the DNSpionage cyberespionage campaign, which involved malicious macro‑laden documents and DNS‑based command‑and‑control tactics aimed at compromising its networks, highlighting the cybersecurity risks faced by aviation entities. This incident underscores the importance of robust defensive measures for airlines operating in a geographically strategic and politically sensitive environment.