Middle East Airlines set to join global carrier alliance

Lebanon’s flag-carrier, Middle East Airlines (MEA), has announced plans to join SkyTeam, one of the world’s biggest alliances.

The airline will sign a deal on 28 February, paving the way for MEA to be granted full membership in 2012.

“SkyTeam is actively working to strengthen its presence in the Middle East, one of the world's most important economic regions,” the alliance said, in a press statement.

“MEA will be a valuable addition to the alliance by offering customers increased access to the Middle East and Western Africa.”

The move comes a year after Saudi Arabian Airlines also moved to join SkyTeam.

The Lebanese airline will join up with some of the biggest names in aviation when it becomes a SkyTeam member. Among the alliance’s carriers are Air France, Delta Airways, Korean Air and Delta.

Altogether, the alliance flies 385m passengers annually, with a worldwide system of 12,500 daily flights to 898 destinations.