Lebanon's flag carrier Middle East Airlines plans to launch its low-cost airline in 2027, the company's chairman said.
Mohammad El Hout announced the launch of Fly Beirut at a ceremony on Tuesday to mark the company’s 80th anniversary, which was attended by Prime Minster Nawaf Salam.
"Plans have been drawn up for the company’s future, starting with restoring Beirut’s role as a maintenance hub for foreign airlines, which will require new facilities," Mr El Hout said.
The company also expects to add six aircraft to its fleet next year, he said.
Mr El Hout told The National in June that MEA was studying setting up a low-cost carrier to serve destinations in the Middle East and Europe. He said it would be a wholly owned subsidiary of the wider MEA group but fully independent.
MEA, whose parent company is the Central Bank of Lebanon, has a strong hold on flights in and out of the country. Lebanon's large diaspora, as well as regular travellers in and out of the country, have long complained about its high prices.
But MEA also received praise last year for continuing to operate during the Israel-Hezbollah war, despite the focus of Israeli attacks on Beirut being on the capital's southern suburbs, where the country's only international airport is situated.
Mr Salam said MEA had "become a model of modern Lebanese institutions".
Efforts are also under way to reopen the Qlayaat Airport in the northern governorate of Akkar for civilian flights.
Minister of Public Works and Transport Fayez Rasmani, speaking at the ceremony, said the second airport would be open within a year, while also noting that work was under way to modernise and expand the capacity of Beirut’s overstretched Rafic Hariri International Airport.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
Abaya trends
The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.
Scoreline
Al Wasl 1 (Caio Canedo 90 1')
Al Ain 2 (Ismail Ahmed 3', Marcus Berg 50')
Red cards: Ismail Ahmed (Al Ain) 77'
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Biography
Her family: She has four sons, aged 29, 27, 25 and 24 and is a grandmother-of-nine
Favourite book: Flashes of Thought by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
Favourite drink: Water
Her hobbies: Reading and volunteer work
Favourite music: Classical music
Her motto: I don't wait, I initiate
The biog
Favourite car: Ferrari
Likes the colour: Black
Best movie: Avatar
Academic qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in media production from the Higher Colleges of Technology and diploma in production from the New York Film Academy
