Libya Herald reporters.
Tripoli, 23 July 2014:
Afriqiyah Airways’ attempts to resume flying today to the EU from Misrata have been put on . . .[restrict]ice. Last night the airline announced that it planned to run a return service to Dusseldorf today. However this morning it said this and other flights planned this week from Misrata to London Paris and Rome were on hold.
“With airspace closed, there are no flights to Europe or Istanbul from anywhere in Libya until further notice,” the airline tweeted. “We’ll update you as soon as we know”.
The key issue is the area radar operated out of Tripoli International Airport. This has not been functioning since staff abandoned the operations room when fighting began at the airport ten days ago.
It is understood however, that a Libyan Airlines flight went to Istanbul today, though it has not been possible to confirm whether it left from Misrata or Mitiga or possible Labraq outside Beida in the east. [/restrict]