The Jet Age marked a transformative era for Lebanon’s aviation, led by Middle East Airlines – Air Liban (MEA) and Trans Mediterranean Airways (TMA). MEA became Lebanon’s flag carrier and symbol of resilience, while TMA emerged as a global cargo pioneer — together turning Beirut into a leading Middle Eastern hub in the 1960s and 1970s.

MEA: Jet-Powered Resilience
Founded in 1945, MEA entered the jet age in 1960 with the de Havilland Comet 4C. After merging with Air Liban in 1963, its fleet grew to include Caravelles, Boeing 720Bs, VC10s, and 707s, linking Beirut to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Despite losing most of its fleet in the 1968 Beirut Airport raid, MEA rebounded swiftly, later adding the Boeing 747-200B in 1975. MEA became a proud emblem of Lebanese determination and elegance in air travel.

TMA: Cargo Without Borders
Founded in 1953, TMA joined the jet era in 1966 with the Boeing 707-331C, rapidly expanding its network. By 1967, it operated the world’s longest all-cargo route from Beirut to Tokyo and secured vital fifth-freedom rights across Asia. Even after the 1968 raid, TMA rebuilt and connected Lebanon to major global trade centers, earning a reputation as a world-class cargo carrier.

A Nation’s Twin Wings
Between 1960 and 1975, MEA and TMA embodied Lebanon’s spirit — one flying passengers, the other freight — their jets carrying the cedar emblem across continents and defining Lebanon’s golden age of aviation.