Lebanon national carrier Middle East Airlines - Air Liban (MEA) has signed a new five-year master agreement with global communications provider Sita to introduce new, faster connectivity across the airline’s network.
The contract marks a continuation of the strong relationship between the two organizations, which dates back more than 60 years to February 1956 when MEA first became a Sita member.
The agreement includes Sita Connect which provides the airline with unrivalled network coverage. Sita’s technology will ensure that MEA can maintain fast, effective links with its 26 outstations across the globe, providing a headquarters-like experience across its vast network.
MEA has also extended its use of Sita’s Community Messaging service, allowing the airline to share operational messaging across their airline’s global network of offices and outstations. Both solutions leverage Sita’s common-use infrastructure, providing cost-effective communication solutions no matter where an airline chooses to fly.
Barbara Dalibard, CEO of SITA, said: “At Sita we understand the vital importance of fast, reliable communication in supporting an airline’s day-to-day operations and therefore Sita continues to develop new solutions that meet the industry’s evolving demands. We have long supported MEA and will continue to work with the airline, as we have over the past 60 years, to deliver communication solutions that meet their changing requirements and help them build a stronger, more efficient business.”
The new agreement was signed during Dalibard’s visit to MEA’s headquarters where she met with MEA Chairman and Director General Mohammad El-Hout. She also visited the MEA’s new training center where she met several senior MEA executives as well as put one of the airline’s new aircraft simulators through its paces.
El-Hout said: “We have taken an important step forward with this agreement and we are excited to continue our collaboration with SITA in the coming years. We chose Sita because of its unrivalled global reach and excellent service. They have been an important partner in helping us grow our business across the region and the globe.”
Adib Charif, Head of Information Technology at MEA: “This investment in new technology and communication infrastructure underpins every aspect of our business and therefore, we needed a partner that had the ability to support us 24/7 and across all the cities from which we fly. In this regard Sita stand head and shoulders above the competition.”
Hani El-Assaad, Sita President, Middle East, India and Africa said: “Our decades of experience of working with MEA will enable us to support the airline’s growth in the years to come by providing the right solution at the right time.”
MEA currently covers 32 global destinations and carries more than 2.6 million passengers a year.