.gif)
By Sami Zaptia.
London, 5 September 2019:
The upgrading of Zuwara airport was the main topic of discussion at a technical meeting held between Libya’s Airports Authority and the Transport Projects Implementation Authority of the Ministry of Transportation on Tuesday in Tripoli.
Libya’s Airports Authority reported that the meeting discussed what was needed to make Zuwara International Airport operational, which included .. [restrict] lengthening the airstrip, the expansion of the car park, installation of airstrip lighting, expansion of the departure hall of the passenger terminal, and the provision of security and safety equipment and systems needed to apply security and safety standards in accordance with the recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organization.
In addition, projects complementary to the operational process were discussed, such as parking and improving the road leading to the airport. The meeting set priorities, distribution of tasks and inventory of the values required to implement projects to enable the airport to receive commercial airline flights.
The discussion on upgrading and opening Zuwara airport comes at a time when Mitiga airport has been closed since last Sunday as a result of it being hit by missiles – part of the military attack launched by Khalifa Hafter and his Libyan National Army (LNA) on Tripoli since 4 April this year.
It will be recalled that during the Tripoli militia fighting of 2014 – which led to the destruction and closure of Tripoli International Airport (30 minutes / 27 km south of Tripoli) – Zuwara airport had offered to open to international flights ‘‘within days’’ provided that it had the necessary support from the Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of Transport. The airport had claimed that it was technically able to take international flights, but that some of its equipment needed maintenance.
However, Zuwara airport’s runway is only 1,800 metres compared with Tripoli International Airport’s 3,600 metres. Zuwara (international code HLZW) has limited apron and parking space and no refuelling facilities. European carriers would almost certainly not fly to it because of categorisation and insurance issues.
In addition, though Zuwara is currently considered secure, and is nearer than Misrata airport (251 km / two-and-a-half hours west of Tripoli) there have to also be questions about the 102 km two-hour westward road trip from Tripoli. Mitiga airport is about 20 minutes from central Tripoli.
It will also be recalled that Zuwara airport was the subject of airstrikes on 15 and 16 August this year by the LNA which UNSMIL and the Faiez Serraj government had condemned. The strikes caused serious damage to the airport’s infrastructure, including to the runway.
The sudden prominence of Zuwara airport reflects the capital’s – and western Libya’s – urgent need for an alternative functioning airport to Mitiga in times of crises and emergencies. [/restrict]
UPDATE: The US awards grant to help improve security at three Libyan airports
UK signs MoU with Libyan Airports Authority to supply explosives detectors
All Libya’s airports and border crossings will receive new maintenance
