During the Arab Air Carrier Organisation’s (AACO) 61st Executive Committee Meeting - Beirut on 12 September 2011 representatives of Egypt Air,  Middle East Airlines, MEA, Yemen Airways, Syrian Air, Gulf Air,  Air Algérie Etihad and Qatar Airways met.

It was reported on 15th Sept. 2011, Hussein Massoud Chairman and CEO of EgyptAir Holding Company stated to local Lebanese media that “AACO is currently coordinating with Arab League and Arab Civil Aviation Commission to take decisive action to address the laws and legislation enacted by the European Union which hinder Arab carriers operating to and from European countries”.

He added “the Secretary-General of AACO (Abdul Wahab Tufaha) was tasked to handle the case” he would “press for equal opportunities for AACO members in the European markets, as European airlines obtain in the Arab markets”.

The Arab League
A regional organization of Arab states in established in Cairo on 22 March 1945. The Arab League currently has 22 members and four observers. The main objective of the league is to "draw closer the relations between member States and co-ordinate collaboration between them, to safeguard their independence and sovereignty”.

Arab Civil Aviation Commission (ACAC)
With its head office in Rabat Morocco composed of 18 member countries: Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen. It coordinates national civil aviation policies including regulations, training and research. An open-sky convention approved in 2004 aims to eliminate all the restrictions concerning the air transport market.

Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO)
Established in 1965, is a non profit organization and has 24 Arab airlines as members. AACO was established by the Arab League. Its goal is to promote cooperation, quality and safety standards among the Arab airlines serves the Arab airlines, represent & defend their common interests regionally & globally ,. AACO is based in Beirut, Lebanon.

As membership int the AACO is not mandatory for all airlines based in Arab League countries, several Arab airlines, such as Air Mauritanie, the national carrier of Mauritania, are not part of the organization.

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