By Jamal Adel.
Tripoli, 24 March 2014:
Sebha Airport remains closed due to ongoing security issues and concerns that violence could still break . . .[restrict]out in the area.
“Sebha airport is still out of action since clashes started three months ago,” General Manager of Sebha airport Mohammed Owheda told the Libya Herald. “We demanded that an area of between 20 to 25 kilometres around the airport was secured so we could resume fights, but this still has not been achieved.”
Awheda added that it remained risky for the airport to resume flights, because of its location in an area that is considered disputed land between fighting tribes. “It remains subject to crossfire because there are military camps still in the vicinity of the airport,” he added.
“We are expecting a ministerial committee to visit Sebha in the next few days to look into how to can resume flights,” Awheda said. This delegation is expected to include Justice Minister Saleh Marghani, Labour Minister Mohamed Sualim and Telecommunications Minister Anwar Abubakr Faitouri.
Sebha airport was closed over three months ago after tribal clashes broke out in the town. During fighting, missiles fell in the area surrounding the airport, disrupting flights and eventually closing the airport.
The airport was meant to reopen once security issues had been resolved.
The closure has had a knock-on effect on other flights to the South. The nearest functioning airport to Sebha is Obari and all flights from Tripoli are fully-booked well in advance. [/restrict]
