Aerospace |
|
Middle East Airlines reportedly sees the US decision to end a ban on American citizens traveling to Lebanon as a window of opportunity. The airline is hoping that eventually, direct flights to US will resume operations. Last week, US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright announced that she will not extend the ban that has been in force since 1985 when a TWA airliner enroute to Beirut was hijacked as a result of a myriad of kidnappings of foreigners by Moslem fundamentalists opposed to US policy in the region. Reports indicate that Lebanon had wanted to lift the ban a while ago, but it was not justified due to the release of the last kidnap victims during the end of the 15-year civil war in 1990. The company apparently lost $50 million in 1996. |
