The Head of the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority, Mohamed Shelbik, and the Italian Ambassador to Libya, Giuseppe Buccino, discussed ways to lift the ban imposed by the Italian government on Libyan airlines.
This came during a meeting held on Sunday, at the headquarters of the Civil Aviation Authority in Tripoli. Undersecretary of the Libyan Transport Ministry, Khaled Al-Suisi, and the Head of the Libyan Airports Authority, Mohamed Fasatawi, and other officials participated in the meeting.
The Libyan Civil Aviation Authority briefed the Italian side on the mechanism of the work program related to lifting restrictions and fulfilling the requirements of lifting the air embargo. The meeting also reviewed the steps taken in implementing the program to enhance civil aviation security.
A technical team affiliated with the Italian Civil Aviation will visit Libya within a month, in order to follow up on the procedures for lifting the ban on Libyan airlines.
According to the statement, the Italian ambassador to Libya expressed his full support for the mechanism that has been implemented. He also affirmed that he will convey a clear picture to the Italian Civil Aviation Authority.
In April 2022, the European Union (EU) stated that it will continue to prevent Libyan planes from entering its airspace. This decision was made due to fears that the Libyan authorities will not be able to guarantee the safety of planes, and cited the continuing clashes between the warring parties.
The list included measures to ban 90 airlines in 15 countries, including 11 African countries. The ban also included companies in the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, and other countries.
The EU has imposed a ban on all Libyan airlines in European airspace since 2014, over safety concerns.
In January 2022, the European Commission renewed its ban on Libyan airlines. The measure covers all airlines from Libya, including Afriqiyah Airways, Libyan Airlines, Buraq Air, Ghadames Air Transport, Global Aviation and Service Group, Air Libya, and Petro Air.