On Monday, Libyan Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, Omar Keti met with the Head of the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority, Mustafa Ammar. They discussed coordinating efforts to lift the no-fly zone imposed on the country by the United Nations Security Council in 2011.
Keti stressed the importance of providing political and technical support to speed up the lifting of the embargo.
Meanwhile, Ammar confirmed that the aviation authority has been seeking cooperation with airlines from the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Algeria, Qatar, and Turkey.
The statement added that the two officials agreed to visit several European countries, to discuss resuming international flights.
In March 2011, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1973, establishing a ban on all Libyan airspace in order to protect civilians during the uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi’s government.
Last month, Libyan Minister of Transport, Mohamed Al-Shahoubi met with the British Ambassador to Libya, Caroline Hurndall in Tripoli. The two discussed the resumption of air travel between the two countries, and the reopening of the British and the European airspace for Libyan airlines.
The two sides also discussed the UK’s training of civil aviation students, and ways to encourage the return of air traffic by lifting the ban imposed on Libyan airlines, and the resumption of sea line operations. The two sides also discussed the return of British companies to Libya.
Earlier this month, the European Commission renewed its 2014 ban on all Libyan airlines from flying in European airspace. According to the European Commission’s website, the decision came as part of safety and security precautions.
The list of banned airlines included Afriqiyah Airways, Libyan Airlines, Buraq Air, Ghadames Air Transport, Global Aviation and Service Group, Air Libya, and Petro Air.
The seven Libyan airlines are among 115 companies around the world subject to an operating ban, or operational restrictions within the European Union. This is primarily for failing to comply with international safety standards.
The ban came about after violent clashes erupted in Tripoli between rival armed groups, which destroyed the city’s international airport.