By Libya Herald reporter.
Benghazi, 6 July 2017:
Benghazi’s Benina airport will restart commercial flights on 15 July, an official at the airport had told the Libya Herald. The first would be a Libyan Airlines flight to Amman, the official said. He added that Afriqiyah Airways was also expected to start Benina operations at the same time. A technical team from the civil aviation authority would carry out an inspection next week to give the final go-ahead in time for next Saturday’s restart-up, he explained.
The news follows yesterday’s final liberation of the city, announced by Field Marshal Khalifa Hafter.
Benina has been gradually winding up to full operational status over the past two months, first with VIP and emergency flights then those flying oil workers and, most recently Umrah pilgrims.
Delays in fully reactivating Benina had been put down to the lack of baggage-scanning equipment, but security concerns are believed to have been the real reason. The baggage equipment has in any event now been installed.