By Sami Zaptia.
London, 4 June 2021:
Libya’s Ministry of Economy and Trade revealed yesterday that a ministerial meeting was held on 1 June in Paris to discuss the development of the air fleet for Libyan airliners.
The meeting included the Minister of Transportation, Mohamed Al-Shoubi, the Minister of Economy and Trade, Mohamed Hwej, and Khaled Mazen, the Minister of Interior.
The meeting also discussed the possibility of concluding a long-term partnership between Libyan airlines and Airbus to modernize and maintain aircraft with Libyan companies, increase the number of their air fleet, and implement training and qualification programs for Libyan elements in the field of aircraft maintenance.
10 modern helicopters on order from Airbus?
According to a social media announcement in November 2020 by Fathi Bashagha, the former Minister of the Interior for Libya’s internationally recognized Libyan government based in Tripoli, an agreement was reached with Airbus to deliver to Libya “10 modern and fully equipped helicopters.”
These aircraft, he wrote, “will be used for the purposes of combating organized crime and terrorist groups, search and rescue, border and coastal surveillance, human smuggling lines, and civilian safety tasks.”
Bashagha had been on a visit to France, during which he had signed a memorandum of understanding with a French biometric identification company Idemia.
Airbus agrees to adjust type and number of Libya’s aircraft order
It will also be recalled that on 9 November 2020, the Libyan African Aviation Holding Company (LAAHC) reported that Airbus has agreed to renegotiate Libya’s aircraft delivery contracts. LAAHC is Libya’s holding company that owns both its main state carriers, Libyan Airlines and Afriqiyah Airways.
According to the LAAHC Airbus has agreed in principle to change the type and number of planes to be delivered from A-350’s to the smaller A-220/320/321/330 models. It said the smaller models better meet the requirements of the Libyan market and better serve the Libyan public’s interests.
Airbus agrees to renegotiate aircraft delivery contracts with Libya | (libyaherald.com)
Libya’s Interior Ministry visits Airbus to discuss purchase of helicopters | (libyaherald.com)
