Problems with aviation insurance will slow down the process of evacuating Irish citizens and other foreign nationals from Lebanon.
Some insurance companies consider Lebanon a war zone, leading to a lack of insurance coverage for the aircraft of Middle East Airlines, Lebanon’s home base carrier,.
MEA has an all-airbus fleet of 22 aircraft and has moved five of its aircraft to Turkey for safety reasons. The airline ceased operations of its A321 Neo aircraft. Three out of nine aircraft were in Istanbul since mid-October, while the remaining six were relocated on October 21. Two are now in Beirut, two in Larnaca, one in Paris, and one in Amman (instead of flying to Beirut as originally planned).
Among the listed A320 aircraft, seven were active on Monday, while one last flew on Sunday and is currently in Amman, and one last flew on Saturday and is currently in Kuwait City.
One of the airline’s four A330-200s has been in Istanbul since October 13, and one has been in Larnaca since Saturday. Two A330-200s are en route on Monday.
Middle East Airlines has adjusted its flight schedule on a daily basis and is publishing the updated schedules on its website.
Chair of the airline Mohammad Al-Hout said “our priority is to secure communication between Lebanon and the rest of the world.”
In 2006 six aircraft were caught on the ground when Israel last bombed Beirut airport. A lot has changed since then with the evolution of the leasing and insurance industries.
Aviation war insurers in Europe, the United States, and the Lloyd’s of London market have the authority to issue a notice of cancellation or changes in terms and conditions in the case of a major conflict, and they have already issued such a notice to Israeli carriers. The airport in Damascus has reopened for a second time after two Israeli missiles attacks within a week. The airport in Aleppo remains closed, also after two Israeli bombing raids. El Al halted their Dublin to Tel Aviv service earlier than planned on October 19.
Of the 58 departures from Beirut today, 22 are operated by MEA.
