Middle East Airlines strike to affect most flights on 29-Apr-2010

Middle East Airlines (MEA) members of the Lebanese Pilots Association announced plans to commence a 24-hour strike on 29-Apr-2010 to protest against benefits scaled in the carrier's 2001 restructuring (Reuters, 29-Apr-2010). The strike will commence at 0600 local time and affect 24 MEA flights to/from Beirut International Airport. MEA Chairman, Mohamad el-Hout, stated the strike will affect most flights and will cost "money and affect our reputation" but did not state how much the carrier expects to lose. The carrier undertook the restructuring process from 1998 to 2002 to return to a net profit of USD22 million in 2003. However, it reported a USD100 million loss in 2009.