AirxLiban From Lebanon, joined Oct 2003, 4491 posts, RR: 55 Reply 1, posted (9 years 3 months 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 1447 times:
Mohammed El-Hout is in Brazil?
Hopefully he's working some things out.
I really DO NOT think that they can do GRU without adding another aircraft or else substituting the A321s on some of the A332 routes. Especially in the summer when the demand is greater and london is a daily service.
I suppose they could manage it by majorly increasing fleet utilization but somehow I don't see it happening, lets not forget that F-OHLO will be gone by summer...
People have said that MEA will not be adding any new aircraft to the fleet.
Without having tried to work out the scheduling of the 9 aircraft between the destinations to be served...I will say that I do not think it is feasible to add a GRU service with the current fleet. Even if it is just 2x a week...
MEA321 From Lebanon, joined Oct 2003, 389 posts, RR: 17 Reply 5, posted (9 years 3 months 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 1401 times:
I don't think El-Hout is in Brazil to work out any problems right now. In fact I dont see the Sao Paulo route happening this summer. Most likely El-Hout is tagging along with Lahoud to investigate the cargo/passenger market in Brazil for any future (as in 2005) decisions.
Maybe some talks are going on with Varig?
Airxliban,
The A332 can definitely fly the DKR-GRU leg, the only issue for MEA was attaining the ETOPS for the route since it exceeds the current rating they have. However it is easily achievable.
BA From United States of America, joined May 2000, 11135 posts, RR: 61 Reply 6, posted (9 years 3 months 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 1387 times:
I was going to post this, but I've been busy this weekend. Yes, El-Hout is in Brazil to talk about starting Sao Paulo service. We should hear an announcement in March. MEA will be dry-leasing at least 1 A330 this summer, perhaps from Lufthansa.
lets not forget that F-OHLO will be gone by summer...
It's already gone.
The A330-200 can easily fly DKR-GRU at MTOW.
the only issue for MEA was attaining the ETOPS for the route since it exceeds the current rating they have.
They have 120min. ETOPs, more than enough for BEY-DKR-GRU.
Regards
"Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need." - Khalil Gibran
Mozart From Luxembourg, joined Aug 2003, 2008 posts, RR: 14 Reply 11, posted (9 years 3 months 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 1332 times:
Will the fact that GN comes to BEY change MEA's African plans? In any case, i haven't heard anything about those African destinations in a long time, not at least since some weeks after the COO crash.
MEA310 From Lebanon, joined Feb 2002, 660 posts, RR: 13 Reply 12, posted (9 years 3 months 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 1250 times:
They mentioned in the news tonight that El Hout is there to discuss the plans of operating a direct link between Lebanon & Brazil.Nothing else was mentioned.
F-OMEA flew the president there,it was a 15 hour non-stop from BEY.
MEA330 From Lebanon, joined Aug 2002, 268 posts, RR: 8 Reply 13, posted (9 years 3 months 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 1232 times:
We should hear an official statement within a week regarding MEA and the route to Brazil.
By the way F-OHLO is still operating flights for MEA in an all white colour scheme, ahead of redelivery to ILFC in March.
Marcopolo747 From Brazil, joined Mar 2001, 460 posts, RR: 2 Reply 14, posted (9 years 3 months 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 1223 times:
JJ flies daily GRU-CDG and GRU-MIA with their A332s, shouldn't be a problem for ME flying BEY-GRU via whatever city in West Africa with its 332s.
Former ME sevice with 313s was via Banjul or Abidjan (I can't remember)
TR763 From Brazil, joined Mar 2001, 769 posts, RR: 16 Reply 15, posted (9 years 3 months 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 1223 times:
Hi there!
If this happens, it´s not going to be the first time. I think that some years ago MEA had regular flights to São Paulo with their 742. I´m almost sure of that (reg. flight), but maybe I´m wrong... Here is a picture of their Boeing in GRU:
Donder10 From Canada, joined Oct 2001, 6659 posts, RR: 23 Reply 16, posted (9 years 3 months 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 1214 times:
At least when MEA say they will fly a service they turn up.Air Gabon have an amazing ability to cancel service at the last moment and turn up 4 hours late when they want.
Marcopolo747 From Brazil, joined Mar 2001, 460 posts, RR: 2 Reply 17, posted (9 years 3 months 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 1211 times:
TR763,
Yes, ME had a regular flight to GRU, started with twice weekly 747 service, later they switched gauge to the A310-300 and when the exchange crisis hit they cancelled the route.
Yegbey01 From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 1678 posts, RR: 3 Reply 22, posted (9 years 3 months 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 1107 times:
There will be another meeting between the MEA and Varig offiicials in March in Paris.. (why Paris.. no clue). That's when the announcement is expected to take place.
Yegbey01 From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 1678 posts, RR: 3 Reply 23, posted (9 years 3 months 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 1099 times:
A follow up:
The meeting will take place march 11 in Paris between MEA and officials from "two" other airlines from Brazil.
el-Hout reported that there are currently 22,500 pax per year that come from Brazil to Beirut. He wants to see 50,000 pax before he can push for re-opening the route as MEA can not capture the entire market.
I guess, he's probably looking to partner with varig to split the costs.
RG777 From Brazil, joined Jan 2004, 40 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (9 years 3 months 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 1080 times:
There is a fact to be considered:
The lebanese comunity in Brazil, specialy in São Paulo, is very big.
The fact that Lebanon today is a great destination for tourism and bussiness, and that GRU is the gateway to South America, it seams to be normal the intention of MEA to be flying again to Brazil.
Hugs
RG777
25 BA: 22,500 a year is not enough to fill 2x weekly A330-200s.......... It could work if they do it via Dakar or some other destination to collect more pass
26 Yegbey01: BA, 22500 pax are each way. That means theer are about 850 pax per week each direction. If MEA gets a 50% share of that, they could rung twice weekly
27 BA: Yegbey01, You're right, but that's still not enough because throughout the year, there will be deviations in loads. It won't remain constant. You have
28 MEA310: AirxLiban Unfortunately no photos are available, I was able to check it in last night's news report.Hope spotters at GRU managed to get some shots...
29 BA: The A330 did not fly to GRU. It flew to a secret military base in Brasilia. Since it's a secret military base, I doubt you will find photos. Regards
30 AirxLiban: It flew to a secret military base in Brasilia. Since it's a secret military base, I doubt you will find photos. In that case maybe I shouldn't keep my
31 AirxLiban: Incidentally where are we expecting the dry leased A332 to come from? LH's are PW.
32 ToBEYwithMEA: does anyone think that they can get them from Air France??????
33 MEA321: Im thinking U.S. Airways... Lufthansa has so few A330s and they are just starting to utilize them on their respective routes: BOS, PHL, YUL, JFK, amon
34 MEA330: When will you give up the dream guys? The press reports talk of a meeting in March between MEA and Varig/TAM. It looks like it's a diplomatic way to d
35 BA: People, let's not assume that MEA will lease an A330 from another airline. Have you ever thought they might buy one or lease a brand new one fresh out
36 AirxLiban: I think Airbus should give MEA an honourary A330-200 as a gift because of MEA's commitment to Airbus over the last 10 years! They have operated A310-2
37 BA: France kinda did give MEA a gift back in 1997. Those 2 A320s and 2 A321s that MEA got from ILFC back in 1997 were greatly financed by the French gover
38 MEA321: MEA330, Thanks for your insight, but telling us to give up a dream seems an overstatement on your behalf. Its a hobby for some people to speculate on
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