The Chairman of EgyptAir Holding Company, Yahia Zakaria announced that EgyptAir will operate new direct flights to Misrata, Libya.
Zakaria added that this step is part of the company’s “ambitious plan to expand its network in Africa, reaching vital points to enhance trade and economic exchange between Egypt and Libya.”
This decision is in response to the increased travel between the two countries, and the growing presence of Egyptian residents in Libya.
In a press statement, Zakaria mentioned that the new route is scheduled to commence operations on 25 January, with one weekly flight every Thursday.
Misrata will become the third destination in Libya for EgyptAir, following Benghazi and Tripoli.
EgyptAir has introduced discounts for the first four flights, to encourage travelers on the new route. The inaugural flight will have a 50% discount, and the subsequent three flights will have a 25% discount, if tickets are purchased by 20 January.
Customers can book their flights to Misrata through the EgyptAir website, EgyptAir offices worldwide, and travel agents.
After adding Misrata to its network, EgyptAir will operate a total of 15 flights per week to Libya, with seven flights to Benghazi, seven to Tripoli, and one to Misrata.
Last week, the Director of the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority, Mohamed Ashleibek anticipated the lifting of the European aviation ban on Libya in April 2024.
According to Ashleibek, international audits of civil aviation in Libya have yielded mostly positive results. He told Al-Wasat newspaper that Libya will be ready to welcome European flights in April, coinciding with the reopening of Tripoli International Airport.
The official mentioned the readiness of several Arab and foreign airlines to resume direct flights to Libyan airports. Negotiations are underway with Turkish and Qatari airlines to resume their routes.
In September 2023, flights between Libya and Italy resumed after a nearly ten-year hiatus, despite the European ban on Libyan airlines, as announced by authorities in Tripoli. Italy is the second European country, after Malta, to have a direct air route with Libya, despite Libyan airlines being blacklisted since 2014 from flying over European Union airspace.
Foreign airlines have gradually returned to Libya. Tunisair became the first airline to fly to Libya in May 2021, followed by EgyptAir and a few other carriers. Although most of the air operations are still managed by Libyans, five private airlines have started operations for various domestic and international routes.
On 11 December 2014, the European Commission banned Libyan airlines from passing over EU member states’ airspace, due to safety control concerns in a country experiencing periodic security tensions.