So our national carrier Middle East Airlines seems to have made a new safety video to show on their flights featuring some of Lebanon’s beautiful places like Jeita grotto, the cedars forest, and the Pigeons’ rock.
Making a creative safety video is pretty cool and featuring beautiful sceneries from around Lebanon was a good idea, but what’s with the constant silly dance moves?!
Ka2anna tayyaret bayyo!
According to this article from Al-Akhbar, Mohamad El-Hout (The CEO of MEA) is now working to convince the American authorities to remove the ban on MEA that was imposed in 1985 following the hijacking of a TWA plane at Beirut airport.
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.
Telling by the actions Hout is taking, I wouldn’t be surprised if flights really resume some time in the near future. Given of course that politics will have nothing to do with the matter…
Looks like Middle East Airlines resumed all their flights as of last night after the pilots ended their 5 days strike.
Captain Fadi Khalil, head of the pilots’ union, announced the strike had ended at midnight on Saturday. Normal scheduling resumed on Sunday.
“Out of concern for our company and Lebanon’s tourism sector, and out of respect for our passengers, we announce the suspension of our strike,” Khalil said at a news conference, adding that the strike was “in principle over.” Source.
It’s irritating how problems are being handled over the last few days. The Lebanese Pilots Association initially had a problem with the MEA management over firing a pilot diagnosed with cancer, and next thing we knew is flights are all suspended via MEA.
Two days ago, some problem/dispute (whatever it is) happened at the Zahrani power plant, and the employees ended up halting all power generation!
And who gets caught in the middle of everything? Us.