BEIRUT: Middle East Airlines chairman Mohammad Hout and head of the Lebanese Pilot Association Fadi Khalil Friday partially ended their differences over the demands of aviators after the intervention of Public Works and Transport Minister Ghazi Aridi.

After three hours of talks at the headquarters of MEA, both Hout and Khalil had honest and candid discussions on the reasons which prompted the pilots to observe a three-day strike following the decision of the management to terminate the services of a pilot who was undergoing medical treatment.

“Hout and Khalil expressed keenness to protect the company and its staff. Another meeting between both sides will be held on Tuesday to iron out the remaining points,” Aridi told reporters.

Hout earlier insisted on deducting five days salaries from all the pilots who observed the strike to make up for the losses the company incurred during the protest action.

It is still not clear whether Hout has backed down from his demand to deduct five days salary from the pilots or whether they managed to find an acceptable compromise that would appease both parties.

Aridi said that MEA planes have carried 2 million passengers this year and this was a significant figure considering the situation Lebanon and the region passed through.

Hout told The Daily Star earlier that the economic recession, political wrangling in the country and the turmoil in Syria had affected the revenues of MEA this year.

The chairman did not disclose details about the revenues of the company this year but pointed out that MEA hardly managed to break even.

In addition to the political factors, MEA’s revenues dwindled due to the fierce competition from foreign airlines and the high cost of fuel oil in the international market.

MEA runs a fleet of 15 new Airbus planes at present.