MEA private jet service
starts in December

To partner with local private jet airliners

Middle East Airlines (MEA) will begin operating its private jet services in December.

The airline has purchased a nine-seat, Brazilian-made, Embraer Legacy 500 for $19 million and established a subsidiary to operate the private jet services.

The jet will use MEA’s ground facilities such as maintenance and luggage. “We are considering widening the private fleet by purchasing other jets in the future,” said MEA Chairman, Mohammad Hout.

“Our rate is between $4,500 and $5,000 per hour for flying the jet,” he said.

MEA is in negotiations to partner with private jet companies at the Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport (RHIA). “We will use their planes to serve our customers,” he said. There are three private jet companies operating out of RHIA: Imperial Jet (owned by Abed Jaouni), Open Skies Aviation (owned by Haitham Azhari), and Executive Sky (owned by former Prime Minister Najib Mikati). The three have a combined fleet of eight jets.

Private jet pilots are graduates of European flight training schools.