The Tripoli government announced yesterday that the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority has renewed the accreditation of the Continuing Airworthiness Management Organization (CAMO) affiliated with the Libyan Air Ambulance Service.
This follows the Libyan Air Ambulance Service’s fulfilment of accreditation requirements in accordance with aviation safety and continuing airworthiness management standards.
The government said renewal comes after more than three years of work, training, and capacity-building involving specialized national personnel. It enhances the service's ability to monitor the technical condition of its aircraft and ensure compliance with airworthiness requirements.
The Tripoli government said this accreditation is crucial for maintaining the operational readiness and continuity of air ambulance aircraft. Through periodic technical monitoring and verification of airworthiness compliance, it bolsters flight safety and ensures the uninterrupted delivery of ambulance and patient transport services.
Contributing to lifting the EU flight ban?
Furthermore, the government added, the accreditation supports efforts to develop Libya's civil aviation system and elevate compliance with aviation safety standards, thereby contributing to the drive to lift restrictions currently imposed on Libyan aviation.
EU’s EASA extends flight ban to January 2027
It will be recalled that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) announced on 24 July the extension of its flight ban over Libya until January 2027.
This advises air operators to exercise extreme caution or avoid Libyan airspace due to ongoing security risks, political instability, and fragmented military control.
Key risk factors
The ban identifies three risk factors:
Security Volatility: Presence of competing authorities and violent non-state actors.
Misidentification Risk: Fragmented or unclear command and control of local air defence systems.
Degraded Services: Potential unavailability or degradation of air navigation services and unreliable aeronautical information (NOTAMs)
The reality – hundreds of flights to and from Libya every year
In reality, it must be noted that international carriers have been flying over Libyan airspace since January 2025. Other Arab and Turkish Airlines are also flying to Libya.
In March this year, the French Directorate General of Civil Aviation gave Air France permission to fly over Libya again - in a very specific corridor. Other carriers that currently flying over Libya include Qatar Airways, Emirates, EgyptAir, Turkish Airlines and Max Air (Nigeria).
US FAA lifts flight ban over Libyan airspace
It must be noted that in March 2019, the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) reviewed its flight ban over Libyan airspace by permitting US carriers to fly over Libyan airspace above 300 metres.
Egypt Air emergency landing at Kufra Airport
It will also be recalled, and as reported by Libya Herald, that the state Libyan Company for Ground Services had reported that an Egypt Air flight was forced to make an emergency landing at Kufra Airport in January 2025.
The emergency was due to the sudden illness of one of the flight attendants on board. The flight attendant had suffered a drop in the level of blood sugar and high blood pressure.
All necessary services were provided
The Libyan Company for Ground Services reported that the preset emergency plan was provided and applied, and all necessary services were provided with high quality to the plane and crew.
Ground services available 24/7 to all flights crossing Libyan airspace
The Libyan Ground Services Company assured that the company’s stations at all Libyan airports are ready to operate 24 hours to provide ground services to all flights of airlines crossing Libyan airspace.
Good news for Libya’s efforts to lift EU flight ban
The news of the successful processing of the emergency landing of the Egypt Air flight at Kufra airport was good news for Libya and its aviation sector. The Libyan government has been working hard over the last ten years to reinstate foreign carrier flights to Libyan airports – including flights crossing its airspace.
Overflights provide valuable revenue
Libya had been losing millions of US dollars’ worth of revenue from fees for flights over its airspace. The successful Egypt Air emergency landing at the very remote Kufra airport helped allay fears and encourage more flights into crossing Libya’s vast airspace.
The illogic of the EU flight ban?
Meanwhile, it must also be noted that, despite the EU flight ban, Libyan owned and Malta-based carrier, MedSky, is currently operating flights to the EU: Athens, Dusseldorf, Madrid, Malta, Milan, Paris and Rome. A second Libyan carrier, in association with an Italian company, Libyan Express, has also launched flights to Malta, Rome and Milan.
This puts into question the rationale of the ongoing EU flight ban.