Lebanese flag carrier Middle East Airlines (MEA) is to announce an order at MEBAA for a second Embraer Legacy 500 for its local private-jet affiliate, Cedar Executive. “This aircraft will be delivered in June 2017,” said Randa Kammoun El-Hurr, operations manager, Cedar Jet Center, which is based at the general aviation terminal at Beirut Airport, Lebanon.

Cedar Executive (Stand 300) started operations with a brand-new Legacy 500 owned and operated under MEA’s AOC on January 1, 2016. According to its website, Cedar Executive, in cooperation with sister maintenance company MASCO, offers aircraft hangarage and full maintenance services for Legacy 500s, as well as Airbus ACJ319s, Boeing BBJs, Textron Aviation Citation CJ-series, Mustangs, M2s and piston-powered C-172 Skyhawks, and Hawker H800/850/900XPs. In addition to MRO, Cedar also offers FBO and passenger and crew services and facilities.

Although the Middle East region is passing through a period of regional instability and reduced requirements for private-jet travel caused by lower oil prices, Cedar Executive has been able to capitalize on serving the local Lebanese demand for private-jet travel.

“During summer, [we are seeing] increased demand from high-net-worth individuals for leisure trips. In the winter season, [there is] solid corporate travel demand,” El-Hurr also told AIN.