MEA 's work started on January 1 , 1946 with a service between Beirut and Nicosia . Then , its airplanes started to fly to Iraq , Egypt , Syria , and Cyprus . Operations started on 1 January 1946 using three de Havilland DH .89 A Dragon Rapides on flights between Beirut and Nicosia , followed by flights to Iraq , Egypt , Syria , and Cyprus .