The Libyan Government of National Unity’s Deputy Minister of Transportation for Air Transport Affairs, Khaled Nasr Al-Suwaissi, recently received a memorandum of understanding (MoU) from Kenan Yilmaz, the Turkish Ambassador to Libya, outlining the framework for Turkish Airlines’ reinstatement of flights to Libyan airports.
This development was formalized during a meeting at the Ministry of Transportation in Tripoli, where Al-Suwaissi and Yilmaz discussed the details of the MoU, aimed at facilitating the early signing and re-establishment of air services between Turkey and Libya.
Previously, discussions between Libya’s Minister of Transportation, Mohamed El-Shahoubi, and Ambassador Yilmaz led to an agreement on drafting the MoU to expedite the resumption of Turkish Airlines operations in Libya. The initiative seeks to enhance aviation links and strengthen the bilateral relations between the two nations.
Furthermore, the head of Libya’s Civil Aviation Authority, Mohammed Shlibek, indicated a potential lift of the European Union’s flight ban on Libyan airlines by April 2024, buoyed by positive international audit outcomes of the country’s aviation infrastructure. The EU had imposed a flight ban on Libyan carriers in 2014 due to safety concerns following the Libyan revolution.
With the anticipated reopening of Tripoli International Airport and positive developments in Libya’s compliance with international safety standards, there is growing optimism for the restoration of Libya’s aviation connections. Several airlines, including Ita Airways, Turkish Airlines, and Qatar Airways, have expressed their intention to resume flights to Libya, signifying a revitalization of the country’s aviation sector.
