MEA becomes 17th member of SkyTeam alliance

The long-drawn out negotiations culminated yesterday in a formal launch for MEA as an alliance partner. 

The Beirut-based airline’s chairman Mohammad Hout predicted passenger growth would follow.

“Becoming a part of SkyTeam will allow MEA to increase the number of passengers and increase its revenues by at least 10 percent,” Hout said at yesterday’s press conference at the Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut.

Hout said Lebanese passengers will benefit from better-priced long-haul trips to destinations including Japan, the United States and China. “Joining SkyTeam allows us to expand our global reach and offer our customers hundreds of new destinations,” he said.

PICTURED: Middle East Airlines’ Chairman, Mohammad Hout, exchanges aircraft models with Leo van Wijk, Chairman of SkyTeam at the IATA annual general meeting in Beijing where the final negotiations to yesterday's contract signing in Beirut took place

 MEA is the 17th member of SkyTeam, which as well as Saudia, also includes Air France, China Airlines, Delta, and KLM.

The signing ceremony included a number of key government officials. Lebanon’s minister for public works and transportation, Ghazi Aridi described the partnership as ‘considerably important for MEA”, particularly as Lebanon is facing turbulent economic and political conditions.

Aridi also hinted that the Lebanese government is likely to renew MEA’s exclusive rights when the airline’s government-sanctioned monopoly license expires at the end of 2012. There has been pressure by other prospective operators – and the country’s civil aviation authority – for the 40-year old monopoly to end to allow greater competition. MEA has successfully argued its case and has urged the government not to abolish the agreement, which it says is vital for safeguarding the company. MEA is believed to have halted the huge losses that threatened its existence a decade ago. Many long-haul flights were cut as part of a restructuring and more regional flights across the Arab world were added. The company reported a $40m profit for 2011. Hout is keen to see revenue increases as a result of the Alliance and the development of Beirut’s airport as a key SkyTeam hub for the region.

Speaking at the signing, SkyTeam’s managing director Michael Wisburn said: “By welcoming MEA into SkyTeam we are offering our customers increased travel options to and from Lebanon, particularly given its strong trade links with the Gulf region, Asia, Africa and the Americas – all regions with a considerable SkyTeam footprint,” he said.

Wisburn said that the Middle East continues to be a strategic market for the alliance. He also said that MEA customers will be able to earn and redeem miles on any service operated by the alliance with immediate effect.