Lebanon's Middle East Airlines (MEA) transferred all operations to Damascus in neighbouring Syria in late July after Israeli air strikes forced the closure of Beirut International Airport. The airport was closed on 13 July after air strikes damaged its runways, forcing all carriers to cancel flights to Beirut or divert them to other countries. MEA, which originally moved all its aircraft to Larnaca in Cyprus, will operate from Damascus until Beirut airport re-opens. But MEA's traffic is expected to plummet because Damascus is six hours from Beirut by car while the faster three-hour road is considered unsafe. The Beirut-based Arab Air Carriers Organisation says it is continuing to operate normally.
Source: Airline Business
