TMA Cargo

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 1959. It acquired its first Douglas DC-4 four-engine cargo aircraft in May 1959 and its first pressurized Douglas DC-6A freighter in March 1963.

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%).

In 2000, TMA introduced a new livery to their fleet. The new livery featured a white body with a grey belly, green 'TMA' and yellow 'CARGO' titles across the fuselage and new green decals on the tail.

In 2002, TMA leased an Airbus A310-304F from Islandsflug during April to November, to operate their European routes as the Boeing 707's had been banned from Europe. The airline also planned a new passenger charter airline called TMA-Leisure which would have leased an Airbus A320 aircraft to operate for Lebanese tour-operators. However, this never happened. During 2002, TMA made a $11 million loss.

TMA ceased all flights in 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 was in serious financial troubles and as a result was unable to modernize its fleet.

In September 2005, there were reports that TMA was planning to relaunch operations with a renewed fleet by acquiring medium-haul freight aircraft to replace their grounded 707 fleet, small freighter aircraft for feeder routes, and two Boeing 747-200F aircraft for long-haul freighter flights to the far east, this never happened.

In 2008, Mazen Bsat, Lebanese investor, owner and CEO of Med Airways (formally Flying Carpet), bought TMA for $1 in exchange of clearing the airlines $60 million debt.

In October 2009, TMA launched renovated facilities and a new image, following this TMA also announced that they are to relaunch services. They acquired an Airbus A300-600F for the new cargo operations. In February 2010, the aircraft was painted in the new TMA Cargo livery.

Destinations

TMA Cargo has resumed scheduled operations to 14 destinations from their hub in Beirut. As well as the 14 scheduled destinations, TMA Cargo has also introduced charter flights on special request to various countries throughout Europe.

Historic Fleet

In September or December 2014, its last aircraft was returned to lessor. TMA Cargo operated the following aircraft as of December 2012:

TMA Cargo plans to add more Airbus A300 freighters once they begin to expand.

Historic

TMA operated the following aircraft before ceasing operations in 2004:

Incidents and accidents

TMA had 14 incidents and accidents, four of which had fatalities. The total fatality count during operations (1953–2004) was 20.

TMA had the following incidents and accidents until ceasing operations in February 2004;