LIA (Lebanese International Airways)

  1950 to January 1969

  Lebanon

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TYPE: Airline

IATA/ICAO CODES: Nil

HEADQUARTERS: Beirut

FORMER NAME: Nil

SUBSEQUENT NAME: MEA (Middle East Airlines) (taken over 1969)

Lebanese International Airways was formed with the help of Pan Am in 1950 as a charter operator. Flew regular Beirut-Kuwait services for a time. In 1953 the company was acquired by the Arida brothers each having a 40% share. It began scheduled flights in January 1956. Agreements with SABENA of Belgium from 1958 helped expand the network. Operations ceased in January 1969 after most of its fleet was destroyed in an Israeli attack on Beirut airport. Lebanese International was subsequently taken over by MEA.

1954* to 1959*

• Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando: OD-ABX / OD-ACK, OD-ABZ / OD-ACL