In a shift that surprises many familiar with its pricing history, Lebanon’s flag carrier, Middle East Airlines (MEA), is becoming an unlikely cost-saving option for some travelers, especially among Syrian expatriates in the Gulf, due to sharp fare disparities across regional routes.

Historically known for steep prices and limited promotions, MEA has never enjoyed a reputation as a budget-friendly airline. Lebanese travelers and others flying with the national carrier have long complained about inflated ticket prices. But current fare trends have positioned MEA as a more affordable alternative for some, particularly for those traveling from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to Syria via Beirut.

A Syrian expatriate working in Dubai, who declined to give her name, told Al-Modon that like many of her compatriots in the UAE, she now books flights to Beirut on MEA, then travels overland to Damascus.

“The road trip from Beirut to Damascus is tiring, especially for children, but it’s far more economical than flying directly from Dubai to Damascus,” she said.

As of June 15, a one-way flight from Dubai to Beirut costs approximately 1,450 dirhams ($395), while a direct ticket from Dubai to Damascus comes in at around 5,000 dirhams ($1,361). Similarly, passengers flying from Riyadh to Beirut pay around $500 on MEA, while those flying Riyadh–Dubai–Damascus spend nearly $700 (amid the lack of direct Riyadh–Damascus routes.)

These stark differences have made Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport a preferred entry point for many Syrians heading home, particularly during peak travel periods.

A source at Beirut’s airport confirmed a noticeable increase in Syrian passengers, though it’s difficult to determine how many are continuing on to Syria. Nonetheless, the trend is clear: Beirut is functioning as a transit hub for Syrian expatriates unable or unwilling to pay steep direct flight fares.

One of the major drivers is the elevated insurance risk at Damascus International Airport. The facility remains classified as a "red zone" by global aviation insurers due to ongoing security concerns, dramatically raising the cost of flights into Syria.

Though the distance from the UAE to Beirut is greater than to Damascus, insurance costs have rendered flights to the Syrian capital significantly more expensive. According to the source, airline ticket prices are determined by multiple factors, including mileage, in-flight service, and, critically, insurance premiums.

“As long as Damascus is considered a high-risk airport, insurance costs, and therefore ticket prices, will remain substantially higher,” the source said.

While MEA fares to Beirut may be lower than to Damascus, that doesn’t make them cheap. In fact, prices for Beirut-bound flights have risen between 20 and 40 percent in the past month, driven by high demand ahead of the Eid al-Adha holidays.

An MEA spokesperson said demand traditionally spikes from June to September. Pricing is also influenced by dynamic airline management systems that adjust fares based on booking timing and seat class availability.

In business class, MEA uses four fare tiers from lowest to highest, while economy class spans seven price levels.

“The earlier the booking, the cheaper the ticket,” the spokesperson explained. “Prices rise automatically as the departure date nears and seat availability drops.”

He pointed to last year’s surge in outbound flight prices from Beirut, which were driven by high emigration-related demand rather than inbound tourism.

While global market forces like supply and demand play a critical role in ticket pricing, industry experts say Beirut’s lack of airline competition remains one of the biggest challenges facing local travelers. With limited options at Rafic Hariri International Airport, passengers often have no choice but to shoulder high fares, regardless of their financial means.

Although differences in service, baggage allowances, and in-flight security may justify pricing disparities to a certain extent, many travelers are increasingly willing to forgo such amenities in favor of cost savings.