Afriqiyah Airways announces start of Benghazi-Misrata flights – another step toward normalization

By Sami Zaptia.

London, 2 March 2021:

Libya’s state Afriqiyah Airways announced yesterday the restart of its Benghazi – Misurata – Benghazi flights. Flights will commence from next Tuesday 9 March.

On 10 February the first Libyan Airlines flight had commenced from Tripoli’s Mitiga airport to Benghazi’s Benina airport.

The Afriqiyah flight is part of the wider political healing and reunification of the country set in motion by the 23 October ceasefire and 5 February (Geneva) LPDF’s selection of a new unified Libyan government. The news is further evidence of the normalization between western and eastern Libya after a long political split and civil war.

Nevertheless, the EU imposed flight ban on Libya is still in place. There are no scheduled flights by EU carriers into Libya nor Libyan carriers into EU airspace.

In fact, Libyan carriers currently fly scheduled flights to Tunis, Sfax, Istanbul and Alexandria. Other African destinations as well as Cairo are expected soon.

Libya has been attempting to register some of its carriers in Malta to enable them to fly directly into the EU.

Libyan Airlines increased flights, destinations and aircraft augers well for normalization | (libyaherald.com)

Symbolic Libyan Airlines first flight from Tripoli’s Mitiga arrives at Benghazi’s Benina airport | (libyaherald.com)

Libyan Airlines resumes flights to Sfax airport | (libyaherald.com)

Tunisian aviation delegation visits Benina airport assessing its readiness to receive Tunis Air flights | (libyaherald.com)

Tunisian aviation delegation visits Tripoli’s Mitiga airport to assess Tunis Air flight resumption readiness | (libyaherald.com)

Tunisian Airlines preparing for resumption of flights to Tripoli and Benghazi | (libyaherald.com)

Tunisian Airlines preparing for resumption of flights to Tripoli and Benghazi | (libyaherald.com)

Malta to open Libya Consulate in weeks – visas, residency permits, flights, bank accounts, seized dinars discussed | (libyaherald.com)

Malta to start issuing Schengen visas from Tripoli and direct flights to Libya and European capitals | (libyaherald.com)

Libya and Malta sign transport MoU allowing for Medavia flight resumption and Maltese registration of Libyan carrier | (libyaherald.com)

Libya and Malta discuss flight resumption, aircraft registration, air navigation, training, and visas | (libyaherald.com)

Misrata airport closed after fire, Mitiga to reopen on 9 August – as Maltese inspection delegation considers flight resumption | (libyaherald.com)

Libya-Tunisia agreement on unified health protocol to pave way for opening borders | (libyaherald.com)

EU slams immediate formal ban on all flights by Libyan carriers | (libyaherald.com)

Afriqiyah returning to EU skies as it hires foreign Airbuses? | (libyaherald.com)