Lebanon transport minister revokes licenses of three Beirut airlines says local media

Beirut newspaper Daily Star has reported that Lebanon's Transport Minister Ghazi Aridi has revoked the licenses of three Lebanese airline companies on grounds of malpractice.

According the Arabian Aerospace datasheet there are 12 airlines with AOCs based in Lebanon although there is a restriction on offering scheduled flights because of a monopoly deal between the government and MEA which comes to an end next year.

A number of charter operations, funded by other Arab nationals, have been set up and there has been speculation that there will be a move by some operators to begin low-cost operations once the exclusive agreement ends.

Aridi met with airlines earlier this week and told media that he had warned the companies “I’m prepared to take measures similar to [the revoking of the companies’ licenses] if I feel that there is any shortage or deficiency [in services],” according to the Beirut newspaper.The minister refused to reveal which of the airline companies had lost their licenses.

The Star claims that Aridi, may be planning to extend MEA's monopoly for another period. This is despite mounting opposition by some high profile politicians such as former Finance Minister Jihad Azour; the civil aviation authority and many in Lebanon's aviation industry.