Trans Mediterranean Airways

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Trans Mediterranean Airways

IATA TL	ICAO TMA	Callsign TANGO LIMA
Founded		1953
Hubs		Beirut International Airport
Fleet size
Destinations
Headquarters		Beirut, Lebanon
Key people
Website:

Trans Mediterranean Airways more commonly known as TMA or TMA Cargo is a cargo airline based in Beirut, Lebanon.

TMA ceased all flights on February 2004 when the Lebanese Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA) pulled its Air Operating Certificate (AOC) citing safety concerns over its aging Boeing 707 fleet. The airline is in serious financial troubles and as a result is unable to modernize its fleet. The airline's future fate is uncertain.

As of September 2005, there are reports that TMA is planning to renew its fleet by acquiring medium-haul freight aircraft to replace their grounded 707 fleet, acquire small freighter aircraft for feeder routes, and acquire two Boeing 747-200F aircraft for long-haul freighter flights to the far east. TMA also plans to start a passenger charter service called TMA Leisure that will operate 150-seat passenger aircraft. Details are currently not known, but they hope to restart operations in mid-2006.

Trans Mediterranean Airways is a member of the Arab Air Carriers Organization.

[edit] History

The airline was established and started operations in 1953 as a non-scheduled carrier operating cargo and passenger services. It was certified as the only Lebanese scheduled all-cargo carrier in 1979. Trans Mediterranean Airways (TMA) was the first all-cargo carrier to establish round the world services in both directions. However the Lebanese crisis adversely affected TMA growth and operation. In November 1996, following the Lebanese "Horizon 2000" reconstruction plan, the airline took measures to modernise its operations, restructure activities and increase capital to around $40 million. TMA is owned by Lebanese Air Investment Holding (99.9%) and private investors (0.1%).