Lebanese pilots hold one-day strike

The pilots of the Lebanese Middle East Airlines held a strike for 24 hours, which delayed 11 departures from and 11 arrivals into Lebanon.

The company was able to move several flights, including one on one of its own planes piloted by strike-breakers to London and another on a plane leased from a French company to Paris. It found spots for many other passengers in planes affiliated to foreign companies working at Beirut International Airport.

The pilots held their strike according to the decision of the general assembly of the Lebanese pilots' syndicate as the syndicate has demanded many times before not to approach the equipped rights of the pilots, to abide by paying compensation, annual opportunities for their retired colleagues, to abide by the system of promoting pilots to the rank of captain, converting the engineering pilots to the ranks of assistant pilots, and training them, in addition improving the performance of the medical system.

The company's chairman, Mohammed Hout, said that these pretexts do not form the real reason for demanding the increase in salaries, stating that the company cannot increase salaries as its salaries are the highest internationally. However, Hout said MEA will not reduce salaries.