On Monday afternoon, the first Libyan-bound flight landed in Mitiga Airport from Valletta Airport in Malta, marking the re-launch of the air route after a two-year hiatus.
The plane was received, upon its arrival at Mitiga International Airport, by the Libyan Minister of Transport, Mohamed Al-Shahoubi, Minister of Economy and Trade, Mohamed Al-Hawaij, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport for Air Transport, Khaled Al-Suwaisi, and the Maltese Minister for Economy and Industry, Silvio Schembri.
Al-Shahoubi explained that four flights per week will take place between Libya and Malta. This is based on the memorandum of understanding that was signed during the recent visit of Prime Minister Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba to Malta.
The minister stressed that the resumption of flights would “contribute to enhancing economic growth, revitalizing the movement of people and goods, and advancing the transportation sector in Libya.”
In turn, Schembri expressed his joy at the resumption of flights. He said this was “a step on the right track, and there is a lot of joint work to be accomplished during the coming period.” As well as reiterating Malta’s readiness to provide assistance to develop services in Libya.
“Malta is ready to do anything to ensure that stability and peace reign in Libya, and then if that continues to reign, as brothers, we can address our common challenges,” Schembri said.
Previously, on Friday, the Maltese and Libyan transport Ministries signed an agreement to resume flights between the two countries, according the Media Office of the Libyan Prime Minister.
The statement noted that the airspace will be opened after completing the preparation of the required protocols. No specific date was given for the opening.
Maltese Prime Minister, Robert Abela, added that Malta and Libya must look at new sectors that can be developed together, suach as the energy sector, so that Maltese and Libyan communities can collaborate and build on these opportunities.