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Beirut International Airport Arrival Lounge

Beirut International Airport Departure Lounge

Beirut International Airport (BIA) is a vital facility that plays a major role in linking Lebanon with the outside world and enriches the business and touristic sectors of the economy. Therefore, it's development will bring about a substantial increase in the number of tourists, particularly businessmen as well as attracting major airline companies and increasing transit traffic.

The positive impact of this development on the Lebanese economy will also be marking on both - short and long run. The competitiveness and efficiency of the local industries will increase in order to better serve the tourists and businessmen. BIA is located in the Khaldeh suburb south of the capital and around 8kms distant from Beirut downtown. It was opened in 1954 and is the only civil airport in the conutry. The old airport was renovated in 1977, and the present runways were rehabilitated between 1982 and 1984. The Israeli invasion of 1982 caused considerable damage to most sections of the old terminal building.

The execution of the first phase of the new airport started in 1994 and was inaugurated in 1998. The second phase is expected to be completed by June 2000.

BIA View from the airfield

The area covered by BIA is around 7 million square meters.

Airport Rehabilitation and Development Project

This ambitious project includes the construction of new buildings and the rehabilitation of old areas, as detailed below:

The new terminal building
The new fire fighting building
The Cargo Facility
The new power plant
The Chiller plant
Maintenance and warehouses building
The ground services building
The Civil Aviation Safety Center
The Civil Aviation technical school
The Radar building
The new General Aviation building
The Fuel Farm
The Parking Facility
Two new runways

The terminal building:

Construction works - Phase2

By June 2000 when phase 2 will be completed, the overall area of the terminal building will be:150000 square meters
The terminal building consists of 4 levels:

The lower level:

The total area of the lower level is 30000 square meters and contains mainly utilities and warehouses.

The ground floor:

The total area of the ground floor is 55000 square meters and includes the following:

The arrivals hall: (40000 square meters) with 5 conveyor belts, 200 square meters shopping area and a bank

The meeter and greeter hall: This hall is of a total area of 6000 square meters and is composed of:
Car rental agencies' offices and counters
Counters and offices for touristic services and hotels
Post office
Health office
Lost and found offices
Shopping area
Cafeteria

The airline companies' offices on the aprons:
The total area of the offices is 6000 square meters and includes the offices of the ground handling companies, civil aviation, and the security offices.

The luggage arrival
The total area is of 55000 square meters

The first floor includes:

The departures lobby : The area of the lobby
is 3500 square meters and includes:

The head office of the airport bank
The ticket selling counters
Shopping area
The customs control

The departures hall: The area of the hall's area is 15000 square meters .
The airline companies' offices (60 in total)
The duty free zone : The area of the duty free zone is 6000 square meters and includes diverse shopping facilities, a cafeteria and a transit restaurant.
The departure lounges: total area of 10000 square meters
The gates

The second floor

with a total area of 30000 square meters host mainly the offices of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation

The third floor

Fire Fighting Building

The total area is 10000 square meters and it hosts the technical services of the civil aviation

The new fire fighting building
The total area of the fire fighting building is 2000 square meters and is equipped with 6 modern fire fighting vehicules.

Cargo Facility Building
The total area of the building is 10000 square meters and spreads on three levels.

Chiller plant and power generation plant
The total area of the building is 5400 square meters and includes 9 generator sets and 3 chillers with their respective control panels.

The maintenance and warehouses building
Located on an area of 3400 square meters.

The ground services building
The total area is of 13800 square meters. It consists of three levels:
It is used as maintenance garages for the airline transportation equipment , and rest area for airport personnel

Civil Aviation Safety Center
Situated on an area of 5500 square meters. It is in the process of being re-activated .

Civil Aviation Technical School
The total area of the technical school is 2000 square meters. The Center is equipped with the latest training equipment.

Radar Building
The total area of the Radar building is 600 square meters and it hosts the radar equipment.

General Aviation Facility
The total assigned area is 72000 square meteres. It includes one common general aviation terminal with parking and maintenance areas.

The Fuel Farm
Occupy 100000 square meters surface.

Parking Facility
The planned parking capacity is 3250. The first phase has been completed and inaugurated on march 1999 with a capacity of 1250 cars, and the final phase is expected to be finished by the year 2000.

The two new runways

The eastern runway: (21/3) Total length 3800 meters, and of a width of 60 meters.
The maritime runway: (35/17) Total length 3400 meters (1900 meters within the sea) and of a width of 60 meters.

Three new A330-200 to join MEA Fleet

Middle East Airlines today enters a new era in the modernization of its Fleet, with the acceptance of three brand new Airbus A330-200, Airbus’s newest and most modern aircraft, which will join MEA Fleet progressively in April, May and June 2003.

With the acquisition of its three A330-200, MEA will offer the highest standards to its passengers: while benefiting from the best passenger comfort levels and featuring the quietest cabin in the sky, every aircraft will be equipped with state of the art on-board entertainment technology and sophisticated digital video on demand systems in both Front and Economy cabins, with multi choice of channels. MEA A330’s will also be equipped with facilities especially designed to suit the needs of handicapped passengers.

MEA’s A330’s, leased from ILFC, will be powered by Rolls Royce’s 72000lb thrust Trent 772 engines.

MEA has chosen a spacious layout for its A330 seating 42 passengers in Front class and 208 in Economy, thus offering a total capacity of 250 seats per aircraft. The extra capacity, which will be offered on the routes of Paris, London, Riyadh, African stations as well as some other destinations, will allow MEA to generate higher passenger revenue.

On the other hand, the twin engine A330-200 offers one of the lowest operating cost especially in maintenance and fuel consumption, and its tremendous operating efficiency is enhanced by voluminous under-floor holds that can carry several cargo types including birds and live animals thus generating huge cargo revenue.

“We are finally arriving to the point of reaping the benefits of our 3-year business plan, whereby MEA can consider Fleet acquisition”, said Mr. El-Hout MEA Chairman-Director General, “Our passengers deserve and expect great things of us. By modernizing our Fleet with the best product combined with the highest operational efficiency, we are offering them the highest standards of comfort and technology”.

The General assembly of IATA, voted in MEA’s Chairman of the Board Mr. Mohamad El Hout, as member of the Board of Trustees for a period of three years, as of the beginning of the current year 2001.

The Board of Trustees is considered as IATA’s top Authority. Members are selected by universal votes cast by chief executives of the world Airlines. Furthermore, Captain Oussama Balaa (MEA advisor to Chairman for Aviation Affairs) was reelected as Deputy to IATA Chief Operations Committee. This Committee is a permanent body composed of thirty Airline representatives chosen to cover all geographical regions.

Moreover, and during the same session, Mr. Rabih Azar, Head of MEA’s Industrial Affairs Department, was selected as a member in the special team whose task is to foster passenger rights as part of IATA’s passenger affairs which comprise 30 members chosen among 275 Airlines, were known for their experience and good judgement. The above team is in charge of observing changes in the organization of procedures in the Air Transport Worldwide and endeavors to assess the effect of these changes on aviation as a whole prior to raising recommendations and suggestions to the board of trustees and IAA’s General Manager as well as its other diversified bodies.

Cedar Miles Bonus
Cedar Miles: Service Bonus
Retro-Active credits
Statements and information
The miles you earn with MEA Cedar Miles

Cedar Miles - our unit of free travel

Every time you fly MEA, you earn Cedar Miles - the more you travel, the more you collect. These miles accumulate in your mileage account until you can use them to travel free with the comfort and hospitality of MEA or its Cedar Miles partners. The credit (amount) of Cedar Miles you collect each time depends on the distance you have flown. For example, if your flight from point A to point B covers 2,000 miles, you automatically get 2,000 miles on your account.
A trip between Beirut and Abu Dhabi, therefore, will immediately add 1,312 miles to your account because the actual geographical distance* between Beirut and Abu Dhabi is 1,312 miles.

Important: To ensure automatic recording of your miles, you must quote your membership number every time you make a reservation or check-in for your flight. Furthermore, please keep all your original airline tickets and boarding passes in the outside pocket provided with this member guide.

You can earn even more Cedar Miles, in addition to those you earn when you cover any distance with MEA.

For example: Cedar Miles gives you 3,000 additional Bonus Miles if you travel within six months of your joining the program.

Other examples are found in special promotions that MEA will decide to launch, from time to time, and which will be mentioned in your Cedar Miles newsletter. However, as they are not Q-Miles, they do not count for the purpose your of privilege status.

Minimum miles
Because some flights cover shorter distances, MEA will credit you a minimum of 500 miles per flight. For example: Even if the distance between Beirut and Cairo is of 351 miles, you will still earn 500 Cedar Miles for your departure flight and another 500 Cedar Miles for your return flight.
*source: Great Circle Mileage Table

Qualifying miles
Qualifying miles, or "Q-miles", are the miles you earn by flying with MEA or MEA code-share flights only. Qualifying miles count directly towards your privilege status, raising it from Basic to Prestige, or from Prestige to Elite.

Class of Service Bonus
If you purchase business class fares on MEA or MEA codeshare flights, then Cedar Miles credits you double the mileage covered by your flight. If you purchase full fare economy tickets, then you receive a 25% bonus on your miles. What's more, class of service bonus miles count as qualifying miles also.

Retro-active credits
If for any reason you failed to give your membership number and wish to claim your miles, you may do so by sending send us a letter along with your original ticket(s) and boarding pass(es) within 6 months of your travel.

We keep you informed

If you fly MEA, you will regularly receive a mileage statement summary of all your recent account transactions*. Keeping you up-to-date on all the information you need, it helps you plan how best to use your Cedar Miles well in advance.

*It will also show you how many more miles or flights you need to reach Prestige or Elite status.

The miles you earn with MEA Cedar Miles
Miles earned on a one-way flight between Beirut and MEA destinations worldwide* (from or to Beirut).

City	Cedar Miles earned (Economy one-way)
Abidjan	3,201
From ABJ to LOS	507
Accra	2999
Amman	500
Athens	715
Abu Dhabi	1,312
Cairo	500
Dammam	1,018
Dubai	1,329
Frankfurt	1,762
Geneva	1,759
Istanbul	615
Jeddah	867
Kano	2,267
Kuwait	800
Larnaca	500
London	2,161
Lagos	2,784
Nice	1657
Paris	1,979
Rome	1,377
Riyadh	909
Teheran	906

If you are travelling:	Full-fare Economy	Front class
Booking Class:	Y, K	J, D
Your miles will be multiplied by:	x 1,25	x2

For Example:
Beirut - Frankfurt, distance = 1,762 miles (one-way)

Your accumulated Cedar Miles:
Economy	Economy Full-Fare	Front Class
1,762	1,762x1.25=2,203	1,762x2=3,524

* Not eligible for mileage accumulation are fares corresponding to booking classes A, I, G, B, X, Z.

Begin Date	End Date	Time	Company	Flight #	Route		Day of Week
Begin Date	End Date	Time	Company	Flight #	To/From	Via	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
06/05/2002	28/10/2002	00:20	Arminian Airlines	R3 345	Yerevan		1	0	0	0	1	0	0
30/03/2002	28/10/2002	00:55	Royal Dutsh Airlines	KL 407	Amsterdam		1	1	1	1	1	1	1
03/05/2002	28/10/2002	00:55	Romanian Airlines	RO 191	Bugharest		0	0	0	0	1	0	0
06/06/2002	28/10/2002	01:45	Lufthansa	LH 3622	Frankfurt		1	1	1	0	1	1	1
03/05/2002	28/10/2002	03:20	Austrian Airlines	OS 839	Vienne		1	0	1	0	1	1	0
30/03/2002	28/10/2002	03:20	Malev	MA 240	Budabest		1	0	1	0	1	1	0
30/03/2002	28/10/2002	09:00	British Airways	BA 6702	Amman		1	1	1	0	1	1	0
30/03/2002	28/10/2002	09:40	Emirates	EK 951	Dubai		0	1	0	0	1	0	1
18/05/2002	26/10/2002	10:30	Yugoslavia Airlines	JU 51	Dubai		1	0	0	0	1	0	0
30/03/2002	28/10/2002	12:00	Alyamania	IY 646	Sanaa		0	0	0	0	1	0	0

Notes : 1=Monday, 2=Tuesday, 3=Wednesday, 4=Thursday, 5=Friday, 6=Saturday, 7=Sunday

Begin Date	End Date	Time	Company	Flight #	Route		Day of Week
Begin Date	End Date	Time	Company	Flight #	To/From	Via	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
30/03/2002	28/10/2002	13:30	Middle East	ME 266	Istanbul		1	0	1	0	1	0	0
30/03/2002	28/10/2002	13:40	Air Algerie	AH 4063	Dubai		0	0	0	0	1	0	0
30/03/2002	28/10/2002	13:45	Air France	AF 566	Paris		1	1	1	1	1	1	1
30/03/2002	28/10/2002	14:05	Middle East	ME 403	Kuwait		0	1	1	1	1	1	1
30/03/2002	28/10/2002	14:35	Middle East	ME 305	Cairo		0	0	1	1	1	1	1
30/03/2002	28/10/2002	14:50	Alitalia	AZ 820	Milano		0	0	0	1	1	0	0
30/03/2002	28/10/2002	15:05	Gulf Air	GF 913	Abu Dhabi		0	0	1	0	1	0	0
30/03/2002	28/10/2002	15:15	Ethioupian Airlines	ET 450	Adis Ababa	Cairo	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
30/03/2002	28/10/2002	15:15	Qatar Airways	QR 422	Doha		1	1	1	1	1	1	1
30/03/2002	28/10/2002	15:45	Middle East	ME 210	Paris		1	1	1	1	1	1	1

Notes : 1=Monday, 2=Tuesday, 3=Wednesday, 4=Thursday, 5=Friday, 6=Saturday, 7=Sunday

Begin Date	End Date	Time	Company	Flight #	Route		Day of Week
Begin Date	End Date	Time	Company	Flight #	To/From	Via	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
30/03/2002	28/10/2002	17:05	Middle East	ME 236	Roma	Milano	1	0	1	0	1	0	1
30/03/2002	28/10/2002	18:25	Saudi Arabian Airlines	SV 649	Riyadh		1	0	1	0	1	0	0
30/03/2002	28/10/2002	19:00	Middle East	ME 212	Paris		1	1	1	1	1	1	1
30/03/2002	28/10/2002	19:00	Middle East	ME 313	Amman		1	1	1	1	1	1	1
30/03/2002	28/10/2002	19:05	Middle East	ME 218	Frankfurt		0	1	0	0	1	1	1
30/03/2002	28/10/2002	20:15	Egypt Air	MS 724	Cairo		0	0	0	0	1	0	0
30/03/2002	28/10/2002	21:15	British Airways	BA 6701	London		0	0	0	1	1	1	0
30/03/2002	28/10/2002	22:15	Syrian Arab Airlines	RB 371	Damascus		0	0	0	0	1	0	0
30/03/2002	28/10/2002	22:15	Royal Jordanian	RJ 401	Amman		1	1	1	1	1	1	1
30/03/2002	28/10/2002	22:30	Middle East	ME 262	Larnaca		1	1	1	1	1	1	1

Notes : 1=Monday, 2=Tuesday, 3=Wednesday, 4=Thursday, 5=Friday, 6=Saturday, 7=Sunday

Begin Date	End Date	Time	Company	Flight #	Route		Day of Week
Begin Date	End Date	Time	Company	Flight #	To/From	Via	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
30/03/2002	28/10/2002	22:45	Cyprus Airways	CY 342	Larnaca		1	1	1	1	1	1	1
30/03/2002	28/10/2002	23:50	Middle East	ME 423	Riyadh		1	0	1	0	1	0	1
30/03/2002	28/10/2002	23:55	Middle East	ME 419	Abu Dhabi		0	1	1	0	1	1	1
30/03/2002	28/10/2002	23:59	Middle East	ME 369	Jaddah		0	0	1	0	1	0	1
30/03/2002	28/10/2002	23:59	Middle East	ME 429	Dubai		1	1	1	1	1	1	1

Notes : 1=Monday, 2=Tuesday, 3=Wednesday, 4=Thursday, 5=Friday, 6=Saturday, 7=Sunday

Airbus A300-600R
As part of its fleet modernization program MEA has recently introduced the Airbus A300-600R airplane on its African destinations, London, and Riyadh. The A300-600R is the leading member of Airbus Mid Size family airplane and incorporates advanced technological features to improve its reliability. There are 250 aircraft of this type currently operating in the world with 88 operators. High dispatch reliability, versatility, and passenger comfort were the main characteristics on which MEA has based its decision for the introduction of this type to its fleet. MEA is planning to add another two airplane of this type to its fleet by mid 2002.

The Newly introduced A300-600R to MEA fleet is manufactured in 1995 and powered by General Electric CF6-80C2A5 engines each capable of delivering 61500 lb of thrust thus allowing the achievement of 0.82 Mach Max operating speed. With this airplane MEA is able to reach any destination non-stop within a circle range of 7700 km or 4150 Nautical Miles.

From a passenger appeal point of view, the A300 has the same 222-inch wide body fuselage cross-section as the much larger A330 and A340. The Cabin has a two-class seating Layout; in the Front Class there are 24 seats in six abreast positioned at 45 inch pitch, while in the economy class there are 220 seats in eight abreast positioned at 34 inch pitch thus making MEA the airline with the most comfortable cabin standards on the medium to long haul flights. The in flight entertainment system is composed of overhead video monitors and 6 Audio channels. the cabin is also equipped with a route display map which allow the passenger to identify the aircraft geographical location with respect to the departure and destination points along with other information such ground speed, outside temperature, and remaining distance to destination.

The lower lobe of this aircraft is composed of three cargo holds capable of housing up to 4086 cubic feet of freight or 4 pallets, 10 LD3 containers and 610 cu.ft of bulk cargo.

From an operational point of view the aircraft is equipped with fuel reducing wing tip devices, six identical CRT displays on the flight deck for greater interchangeability, and automatic wind shear protection, a valuable flight envelop protection feature. The digital dual/dual flight management system has more computing power but fewer line replaceable units than hybrid triplex systems. The electrical signaling for slats, flaps and spoiler eliminates complex control linkages to reduce maintenance down times, weight and provide a comfortable flight. Another operational feature on this aircraft is the automatic control of the canter of gravity by the movement of fuel to and from the trim tank located in the horizontal stabilizer.