The reauthorization of flights over Libya by French airlines since the end of March is causing concern among some Air France flight crew unions, according to several French media sources yesterday.
For the past month, Air France has been flying over Libya again, in order to save fuel on several flights to Africa – in view of the shortage and increase in price of fuel prices. However, the decision is worrying the union of hostesses and stewards, the SNPNCFO.
It considers the decision irresponsible and warns that these two professions do not have a right of withdrawal from Air France and adds that the European Air Transport Authority itself recommends not to fly over Libya.
On the other hand, Air France insists that the French Directorate General of Civil Aviation has given its agreement to fly over Libya again in a very specific corridor, and that many companies already fly over the area daily, Qatar Airways, Emirates, EgyptAir, Turkish Airlines.
For Air France, flying over Libya saves time to reach certain African cities from Paris, saving 47 minutes for Kinshasa, 52 minutes for Johannesburg. Internally, they refute any desire to save fuel at all costs, they say they make safety a priority, and they remind that the captain is the ultimate decisionmaker of a plane in the air and that he can decide to make a detour and not to pass over Libya.
Libya becoming safer to fly over?
However, the reality is that, with relative improved safety, security and stability on the ground in Libya, many airliners are voting with their actions of flying over Libyan airspace. This improvement includes improvements of the infrastructure of Libyan airports.
As mentioned, besides Air France – Qatar Airways, Emirates, EgyptAir, Turkish Airlines, Max Air (Nigeria), – have all started to fly over Libyan air space since January 2025.
US FAA lifts flight ban over Libyan airspace
It will be recalled that in March 2019, the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has reviewed its flight ban over Libyan airspace by permitting US carriers to fly over Libyan airspace above 300 metres.
US Federal Aviation Authority permits flights over Libyan airspace
Egypt Air emergency landing at Kufra Airport
It will 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. 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 government’s efforts at the time had come with success, with ITA Airways resuming direct flights between Tripoli and Rome in January 2025. They have stopped since. Other flights that had started or resumed over the last few months/years include, MedSky, Turkish Airlines, Egypt Air, and Royal Jordanian.
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