By Libya Herald staff.
Tripoli, 31 December 2014:
Turkish Airlines flight schedules between Istanbul and Libya have not been affected by the recent . . .[restrict]air strikes on Misrata, the operator has said.
There were only delays to the airline’s Sunday morning service, after the Libyan National Army carried out three airstrikes, targeting the city’s Military Aviation Academy, the Free Port and the Lisco iron and steel works.
“The incident occurred when our plane was on the apron, and passengers and staff were immediately taken to a safe area,” a spokesperson for Turkish Airlines told the Libya Herald. He added that the flight took off later that day.
“Our flights to Misrata are continuing as planned, there is no suspension or revision,” he said. Turkish Airlines is currently flying two services per day between Misrata and Istanbul and, since Tripoli International Airport was destroyed by fighting in the summer, it has become the main international operators of Libya flights.
“Turkish Airlines highly appreciates the strategical importance of Libya in the African market,” the spokesman said. “It assumes that the currently satisfactory commercial results of its flights will become even more successful.” [/restrict]