Tripoli [Libya], January 13: Italy's flag carrier ITA Airways launched its first direct commercial flight to Libya's capital on Sunday, marking the resumption of air links between the two countries after more than a decade, Libya's Airports Authority said.
The inaugural flight connected Rome's Fiumicino airport with Tripoli's Mitiga airport, with services scheduled twice weekly, according to a statement from the authority on its Facebook page.
At a ceremony marking the occasion, Libya's Transport Minister Muhammad Salem Al-Shahoubi called the route's restoration "an important step" in strengthening bilateral ties and accessing European airspace.
The resumption follows an October announcement by Italy during Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's visit to Tripoli, where both nations signed various cooperation agreements spanning development, investment and infrastructure.
Most international carriers suspended Libya operations following the 2014 civil war, which split the country between rival eastern and western administrations after the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that overthrew Muammar Gaddafi. The European Union maintains a ban on Libyan civil aviation in its airspace.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) currently advises against flights in Libyan airspace through April 2025, citing security risks from terrorist organizations and military operations. EASA permits operations only to coastal airports under strict conditions including sea approaches and local coordination.
Italy, Libya's primary trading partner and former colonial power, maintains significant economic interests in the North African nation.
Source: Xinhua News agency
