I’m stuck at the Beirut Airport since my flight back to Kuwait got delayed 2 hours because of a strike. All Middle East Airlines pilots are on strike because the airline fired a 30+ year veteran pilot for getting cancer. I completely stand by the pilots decision to strike even though I’m now stuck here for an extra 2 hours. I guess I should be glad they didn’t walk out and force all the flights to get canceled.
Update: Here is a response from a MEA pilot
First of all i offer our apologies for this delay, and thank you for your support. Believe me when i say it was the only way to get our management to listen. The Lebanese pilots association is not demanding that the captain returns to fly, but they are only asking that this captain get his rights as described by the Lebanese law; receive 2 months full salary and 2 months half salary on sick leave where after that the Lebanese DCA shall decide if he is fit to fly and fully recovered or not. MEA gave him half of what the law says and fired him after 38 years of work during his sick leave in the middle of his treatment (against the Lebanese labor law). Again my sincere apologies and thank you for this support.
14 replies on “My MEA Flight is Delayed”
sad.. I hope the pilot recovers; stupid reason to fire him.
Speaking of airports, the arrivals section of Kuwait airport has become much more worse than before. Immigration officials herding everyone around like sheep. And the female security…phew, don’t get me started on that topic.
What if something happens to the pilot during a flight? I mean it’s cancer. I’m pretty sure they did it for his own good so he can treat himself. If he gets well Inshallah, he can join back.
My prayers go to the pilot and his family
how can he treat himself without a steady income? they could keep him active and use him in other tasks. Airline companies don’t just hire pilots, they have advisories, COOs, and many. A man with this kind of experience is viable for any company and to fire him after 30 years of giving to the company is absurd.
Man your stupid.
More power to the pilots, and good luck to you Mark..
Why did they fire him? I understand why they would not want him to fly, but couldn’t he just go on an extended leave or something?
I really think that their strike is a good way to attract attention to this problem!
I would like to offer my appologies for these delays but believe me this is is the only way we could get our administration to listen. The Lebanese Pilots Association is not requestion that this captain return to fly, but they are requestion that the company follow the rules set by the lebanese government; the employee should get 2 and a half months full salary and the same half salary ( his sick leave as dictated by the lebanese labor law) after that the lebanese DCA should decide whether this captain is fit to fly again or should go on retirement. Mea gave him half that and fired him during his sick leave and stopped his medical benefit. Again my sincere appologies but there was no other way the company would listen.
Sorry i meant request not requestion ( typing fault)
Sorry mark but i have a question not related to this post, its about the boxee, does it strem contents from my pc wirelessly ??
yes
The company i work wit at kwt gives a female colleague a 45 day paid leave fr her pregnency.
she requestd to hv the leave extended to 60 days. guess who just got replaced by a new staff at my office!
labor laws at the middle east sucks.
The Kuwait Labor Law gives her 70 days paid leave for her pregnancy actually, bring it up with HR