At the premises of MEA headquarters in Beirut. (Credit: Philippe Hage Boutros/OLJ)
Lebanese national carrier Middle East Airlines (MEA) once again adjusted its flight schedules and routes on Monday due to ongoing disruptions and the closure of certain airspaces amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. The airline advanced departure times for flights to Jordan and Gulf countries and suspended all routes to Iraq.
Flights to Jordan and the Gulf have been moved up by nearly an hour between June 24 and 26. MEA said the changes were made due to “modifications in certain air corridors, resulting in longer flight durations” caused by the conflict between Iran and Israel.
The affected MEA flights are as follows:
Tuesday, June 24
- Flight ME 426 to Dubai: Departs at 6:40 a.m. instead of 7:30 a.m.
- Flight ME 310 to Amman: Departs at 6:50 a.m. instead of 7:40 a.m.
- Flight ME 424 to Riyadh: Departs at 7:40 a.m. instead of 8:30 a.m.
- Flight ME 404 to Kuwait: Departs at 7:50 a.m. instead of 8:40 a.m.
- Flight ME 436 to Doha: Departs at 2:25 p.m. instead of 3:15 p.m.
Wednesday, June 25
- ME 426 to Dubai: 6:40 a.m. instead of 7:30 a.m.
- ME 310 to Amman: 6:50 a.m. instead of 7:40 a.m.
- ME 424 to Riyadh: 7:40 a.m. instead of 8:30 a.m.
- ME 404 to Kuwait: 7:50 a.m. instead of 8:40 a.m.
- ME 418 to Abu Dhabi: 2:35 p.m. instead of 3:25 p.m.
Thursday, June 26
- ME 426 to Dubai: 6:40 a.m. instead of 7:30 a.m.
- ME 310 to Amman: 6:50 a.m. instead of 7:40 a.m.
- ME 1424 to Riyadh: 7:10 a.m. instead of 8:00 a.m.
- ME 424 to Riyadh: 7:40 a.m. instead of 8:30 a.m.
- ME 404 to Kuwait: 7:50 a.m. instead of 8:40 a.m.
- ME 418 to Abu Dhabi: 2:35 p.m. instead of 3:25 p.m.
MEA suspends Iraq flights
MEA also announced the cancellation of all flights to and from Iraq on Tuesday due to the continued closure of Iraqi airspace. The affected routes include flights between Beirut and the airports in Baghdad, Erbil, and Najaf:
- ME 320 (Baghdad–Beirut)
- ME 321 (Beirut–Baghdad)
- ME 322 (Baghdad–Beirut)
- ME 323 (Beirut–Baghdad)
- ME 324 (Erbil–Beirut)
- ME 325 (Beirut–Erbil)
- ME 326 (Najaf–Beirut)
- ME 327 (Beirut–Najaf)
Emirates resumes Beirut flights
Meanwhile, UAE carrier Emirates resumed its Beirut–Dubai flights on Monday, according to Beirut’s international airport website and local media reports. One flight from the UAE landed in Beirut around noon, with a second arrival expected in the afternoon. Three flights from Dubai are scheduled for Tuesday, along with two departures from Beirut to Dubai, the airport website said.
