By Libya Herald staff.
Benghazi, 29 October 2014:
The Libyan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which has been ordered to Beida to be under the closer . . .[restrict]authority of the Libyan government, is reported be looking to reopen Benina International Airport in Benghazi within three to five weeks.
A delegation from the House of Representatives (HoR) visited the severely-damaged airport on Sunday. The CAA is reported to have said that it would do a comprehensive assessment of the aerodrome, including checks on damage done to the terminals, air navigation systems, control tower and runways.
The CAA has said that the military airport resumed operations this past week and that it hoped to again start running civilian passenger and air freight flights out of Benina Airport in the very near future.
However, Benghazi airport management has said that it has not yet received any official document stating that the airport has been formally placed under the control of the CAA. Likewise, the CAA has not yet formally responded to an instruction from the government to move to Beida.
Meanwhile, back in Tripoli, plans are underway to upgrade the city’s only serviceable airport at Mitiga, to make it suitable for a greater flow of traffic. At the same time, engineers are also examining Tripoli International Airport, razed by Libya Dawn forces after they took it over in August. The idea is to open a temporary terminal until the devastated main building can be restored, or rebuilt.
According to the “National Salvation” government Transport Ministry under-secretary, Abdulhakin Ahmed Alchouda, plans are being drawn up for a new passenger terminal and control tower at the Mitiga, while architects are drawing up proposals for the temporary airport at Tripoli International Airport. [/restrict]
