On Saturday, Libya’s Al-Kufra Airport received its first civilian flight coming from Tripoli’s Mitiga International Airport, after a three-year suspension.
In press statements, airport officials said that the flight, operated by Global Air, landed at the airport after the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced the resumption of flights to Kufra on Friday.
They added that Libyan Airlines, the national flag carrier, will operate weekly flights from Benina International Airport in Benghazi to Kufra on Mondays.
It is worth noting that the residents of Kufra, near the border with Sudan, were forced to travel via road, after flights were suspended. A number of companies used to only operate military flights.
In October, the Libyan Airports Authority announced that the preparations for the resumption of flights from Zuwarah International Airport are nearing completion.
It confirmed that it has installed a system of conveyor belts and passenger acceptance platforms in the departure and arrival halls. This includes six platforms for accepting passengers, with luggage scales manufactured by the Spanish company ULMA.
The authority explained that the system was installed and operated after the necessary tests were conducted by the authority, and airport specialists.
Last month, the Egyptian holding company ‘EgyptAir’ began preparations to reopen its office in the Libyan capital, Tripoli. This comes after an eight-year business hiatus.
It is currently completing the refurbishment of its sales office, given the relative stability in Libya. EgyptAir is paying “special attention to points of strategic importance, including Libya, especially with the presence of many Egyptians residing and working in the country.” The company also aims to enhance bilateral trade and economic exchange.
The airline operates about 5 regular flights per week between Cairo International Airport and Benghazi Airport, on its Boeing B737-800 aircraft.
It also operates charter flights, and flights on demand from various Egyptian airports to Libya, specifically from Alexandria’s Borg El-Arab and Sharm El-Sheikh airports.
Notably, the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority suspended flights between Libya and Cairo in 2014, due to the insecurity and political turbulence in Libya.
The announcement to resume flights between Egypt and Libya came during Libyan Transportation Minister, Mohamed Al-Shoubi’s participation in the 11th session of the Libyan-Egyptian Joint Higher Committee last month.
Libya has remained beset by turmoil since 2011 when long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi was ousted and killed in a bloody NATO-backed uprising.