MEA - Middle East Airlines (ME, Beirut) has thrown its hat into the proverbial ring with Lebanese reports now claiming the carrier is in talks to acquire ailing Cyprus Airways (1947) (Larnaca). According to a report in the Lebanese paper, The Daily Star, highly confidential talks are ongoing though no mention is made as to whether the Beirut-based airline "would seek to buy part or all of the Cypriot national carrier". The report goes on to speculate that MEA "could benefit from Cyprus Airways’ low cost of operation and expand the network of its flights abroad”. Negotiations are set to reach a decision "by the end of May."