Another competitor of MEA was Air Liban founded by French and local interests in 1945 as Compagnie Generale de Transport operating a small fleet of Toucans (french built Junker ju 52) and the ubiquitous DC3. The company expanded its services competing directly with MEA on the same routes. In 1951, it changed its name to Air Liban The acquisition of the DC4 will trigger anxiety attacks at MEA since the modern, at that time aircraft, could open new horizons for the young and ambitious airline. MEA responded to this threat by ordering the most modern airliner at that time the Vickers Viscount and meanwhile leasing from B.O.A.C the Handley Page 81 Hermes.

The first DC4 delivered to Air Liban allowed the airline to open on a regular basis one of its most lucrative route : the route to West Africa where an important Lebanese diaspora existed and in serious need of contact with the motherland. Previously, the route was operated on a charter basis with a DC3 the whole trip lasting more than 48 hours and the introduction of the DC4 reduced the trip from Beirut to Accra in less than a day to be exact 23h and 55m. In an effort to rationalize the commercial aviation sector in Lebanon, Air Liban merged with MEA on June 7, 1963.