Syrian - Lebanese memo on civil aviation signed

Syrian and Lebanese transport ministries Monday co-signed a Memo of Understanding to start taking the necessary measures for setting up a joint Air Taxi company in cooperation with the private sector in the two countries.

The Memo, signed by Transport Minister Makram Obeid and his Lebanese counterpart Najeeb Mikati, provides for setting up a joint Air Taxi company between Syrian Arab Airlines Establishment and the Lebanese Middle East Airlines Company ( MEA).

The aim of the memo is to run flights to the current and future airports in Syria and Lebanon in addition to running flights to Jordan, Egypt, Turkey and Iraq.

The joint company also aims at activating the movement of passengers and goods by direct flights, and set in motion the movement of air transport through benefiting from the capabilities of Beirut International Airport to link with Europe in addition to benefiting from Damascus Mezzah Airport, near Damascus.

The expected time for starting the trips is as from March 2005. The foundation expenses amount to $ 1.8 million. The study of project feasibility expected the revenues will increase to $ 4-6 millions after the second year of starting the project.