Speaking at the opening of the 2nd Libya Aviation Forum & Expo in Tripoli today (6 to 8 November), Italian Ambassador, Gianluca Alberini, said that the civil aviation sector constitutes a true bridge between nations.
He said it has been one of the main efforts of Italy towards Libya, to help the Libyan willingness to establish more direct connections with its neighbouring countries.
Both the Italian and Libyan authorities, he stressed, have been working hard to reach this goal, and finally it was achieved last July with the realisation of the first inaugural direct flight linking Rome and Tripoli.
A few days before that inaugural flight he reminded that the Italian authorities had lifted the NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) that was preventing access by carriers from Libya to EU airspace.
30th September Medsky Tripoli-Rome flights launched
Finally, last September 30th a new regular connection by Medsky Airways was established and now, he said ‘‘we can say that Rome and Tripoli are closer with 3 direct flights per week in both directions’’.
Civil aviation authorities sign MoU
On the same day, September 30th, the Ambassador recalled that Libyan Civil Aviation and Italian Civil Aviation signed a Memorandum of Understanding conducive to opening more air routes between the two Countries. The Ambassador also highlighted the work of ENAV Group for air traffic control with the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority in these efforts.
Interest in establishing more direct routes and cargo flights to Italian cities
However, the Ambassador stressed that the work in this area ‘‘is far from being finished’’. He confirmed that there is genuine interest from air companies as well as from the public to establish direct and more frequent connections between Libyan and Italian cities, and also to open the sector of air cargo.
In conclusion he underscored that Italy is ‘‘committed to this aim in collaboration with Libyan authorities, as agreed by Libyan Prime Minister Aldabaiba and Italian Prime Minister Meloni during the last visits paid both in Tripoli and Rome’’.
