The review places new scrutiny on the Beirut-based airline, which has continued operating throughout Lebanon’s economic crisis and ongoing regional conflict while many foreign carriers reduced or suspended flights across parts of the Middle East.

The audit follows complaints from the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA), which warned that civilian aircraft were being flown in proximity to military activity, including Israeli airstrikes near Beirut’s airport. IFALPA President Ron Hay described such operations as posing unacceptable risks to passengers and crews.

Lebanon’s Civil Aviation Authority said it initiated a safety review and entered discussions with MEA regarding the concerns. The regulator said the audit process remains ongoing, although preliminary oversight inspections conducted between May 18 and June 1 found the airline compliant with regulatory and operational safety requirements.

MEA rejected the allegations, citing its strong safety record and stating that all flights during hostilities were conducted under risk assessments developed with Lebanese authorities and aviation regulators. The airline also denied claims that pilot training assignments were used as disciplinary measures against those reporting safety issues.

The dispute has drawn attention from international aviation groups and airline partners. Pilot associations informed members of the SkyTeam alliance, which includes carriers such as Air France and Delta Air Lines, about the concerns. Both airlines said safety oversight of partner carriers remains a priority.

Additional questions were raised over financial support provided by MEA to aviation sector employees during Lebanon’s financial collapse.

Pilot groups argued the payments could create perceptions of conflicts of interest in regulatory oversight, while the airline said the support was coordinated with government authorities to maintain critical aviation infrastructure and did not affect the regulator’s independence.

Major hubs including Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi have faced operational constraints, leaving passengers unable to travel as planned while airlines adjust routes, suspend services and redeploy capacity to other regions.

Carriers across Europe, North America and Asia have suspended flights to destinations such as Tel Aviv, Beirut, Riyadh and Dubai, with some cancellations extending into the summer and autumn travel seasons. Several airlines are also avoiding the airspace of conflict-affected countries, including Iran, Iraq, Syria and Israel, increasing flight times and operational costs.

Emirates said it is operating a reduced schedule while continuing to serve more than 100 destinations, while Etihad Airways reported maintaining flights from Abu Dhabi to around 80 destinations under adjusted operations.European carriers including Air France and KLM have suspended multiple Middle East routes, while Lufthansa and affiliated airlines extended cancellations to a wide range of destinations until late October.

Low-cost and regional carriers have similarly scaled back operations, citing safety concerns and logistical constraints.In North America, Delta Air Lines has delayed the resumption of key routes to Tel Aviv, and Air Canada has extended cancellations to both Tel Aviv and Dubai through early September.

Asian airlines, including Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines, have also suspended services to Gulf destinations while adding capacity on European routes to meet shifting demand.Meanwhile, some carriers are reallocating resources to less-affected markets.

Airlines such as Qantas and others are increasing flights to European cities, responding to a surge in passenger demand away from disrupted Middle Eastern corridors.Industry participants say the disruptions are being compounded by rising jet fuel costs and shortages linked to constrained oil supplies, forcing airlines to balance safety, cost pressures and demand volatility.

With uncertainty persisting over the duration of the conflict, airlines continue to revise schedules, with many warning that disruptions could extend for months as geopolitical tensions reshape global aviation patterns.