Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stressed on Tuesday that he has been working with President Joseph Aoun to “reconnect Lebanon to the Arab world after years of isolation.”
Speaking at a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the establishment of Lebanon’s national carrier, Middle East Airlines (MEA), the PM said his government aims rebuild the Lebanese state on the foundations of efficiency and productivity by focusing on economic growth and prosperity.
Salam cited initiatives to modernize public administration and establish a Ministry of Technology and Artificial Intelligence.
He added that the government has worked on institutional reform to rebuild trust in the state, to restore its sovereignty and to extend its authority across the country.
“Middle East Airlines has proven that our institutions can succeed when they are built on professionalism and responsibility - free from clientelism and sectarian loyalties,” he said.
Moreover, Salam noted that MEA survived its first big blow in 1969 during an Israeli raid on Beirut’s international airport. “The company's fleet was almost destroyed and the scene of planes burning could suggest that the company will close. But instead of collapsing, MEA rose from the ashes.”
“Then came the war of 1975 and the 1982 Israeli invasion, one of the most difficult phases the country faced in its modern history. The airport was repeatedly shut down, navigation disrupted, and workers were in direct danger, some kidnapped and others killed.”
And yet, he noted, “the company survived and became a big, close family, combining courage, discipline and loyalty.”
Later, during the 2006 war with Israel, the airport was again shut down. Salam said the company's facilities were damaged, but it was one of the first sectors to recover after a ceasefire was reached.
The 2024 war with Israel once again demonstrated a spirit of resilience when MEA became the only option for travel, Salam remarked. “While the skies seemed threatening, the faces of pilots, flight attendants and technicians reflected calm courage,” he stressed.
At the event, MEA Chairman and CEO Mohammed al-Hout announced the launch of Fly Beirut, a national low-cost carrier expected to begin operations in 2027 with a fleet of six new aircraft.
He also revealed plans to restore Beirut’s role as a maintenance hub for international airlines, which he said will require new facilities.
