After a 10-year hiatus, a Turkish Airlines flight landed at Tripoli’s Mitiga Airport yesterday. The landing was timed to coincide with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Libya’s Civil Aviation Authority and Turkish Airlines.
A high-ranking reception was held at the airport headed by the Minister of Transport, Mohamed Al-Shahoubi, the Undersecretary for Air Transport Affairs, the Head of the Airports Authority, the Acting Head of the Civil Aviation Authority, and the Director-General of Mitiga Airport.
A joint press conference was held at Mitiga airport by the Libyan and Turkish sides, and a memorandum of understanding was signed to enhance cooperation in the field of air transport between the two countries, in the presence of the Turkish Ambassador to Libya, the President of Turkish Civil Aviation and the Director of Turkish Airlines, to strengthen bilateral relations and develop the aviation sector between the two countries.
The Ministry of Transport said these achievements embody the continuous efforts made by it, the Civil Aviation Authority, and the concerned departments.
At the press conference Minister Shahoubi said the landing of Turkish Airlines at Mitiga Airport today represents a letter of guarantee to all international institutions concerned with civil aviation
This step, he added, confirms the stability of the security situation and reinforces our commitment to implementing civil aviation security and safety standards.
It also encourages other airlines that may not have sufficient information about the reality of the security situation in Libya.
Hinting at a windfall for the airliner for making the first move of any major scheduled international carrier to return to Tripoli, Al-Shahoubi said Turkish Airlines is the right partner in the areas of cooperation, training, maintenance services and investment activities.
Turkish Airlines is expected to operate 3 flights per week, every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, and will resume its flights to the rest of Libyan airports successively.
The story so far with the return of flights
It will be recalled that in February 2023 MedSky had started charter flights to Malta.
In July of the same year an Italian Airlines (ITA) test flight arrived in Tripoli from Rome carrying Tripoli based Libyan prime minister Aldabaiba onboard.
Aldabaiba had said the flight was a test trip and a practical announcement of the lifting of the ban on civil aviation imposed on Libyan airports in European airspace. He confirmed the start of flights for citizens via commercial aviation to Rome in September – but they did not.
Turkish Airlines’ arrival at Tripoli yesterday may mean the Turks have jumped ahead of the Italians in this regard and may reap the commercial rewards.
Turkish Airlines MoU for return of flights to Libya presented to Libya for review (libyaherald.com)
Turkish Airlines inspects Mitiga airport readiness for return of flights (libyaherald.com)
Turkish Airlines inspects Mitiga airport with view to restarting flights soon (libyaherald.com)
Turkish Airlines suspends flights to Libya (libyaherald.com)
Medsky flies first Berlin to Misrata flight (libyaherald.com)
Medsky to start flights from Tripoli to Malta (libyaherald.com)
First flight between Rome and Tripoli to start tomorrow – ending a ten-year hiatus (libyaherald.com)
