Direct flights between Italy and Libya are set to resume this fall, according to Italian diplomats. The ban on flights was imposed by Rome a decade ago in the aftermath of the overthrow of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and NATO’s intervention in the country.
The Italian embassy in Tripoli shared two tweets on Sunday, stating that a delegation from Rome had met with Minister of State Walid Al Lafi from Libya’s Government of National Unity and Libyan Civil Aviation Authority President Mohamed Shlebik. The discussions centered around the restart of direct flights and confirmed the close partnership between Italy and Libya in the field of civil aviation.
Prime Minister Abdul Hamid al-Dbeibeh expressed his gratitude to his Italian counterpart, Giorgia Meloni, for informing them of the decision to lift the air ban. He described the move as a breakthrough and announced that the first direct flights between the two countries are expected to take place in September.
Italian media outlets reported that the Libyan authorities had shared data on infrastructure and air traffic control adjustments at local airports with their Italian counterparts in recent months. This exchange of information likely contributed to the decision to lift the ban and resume direct flights.
Flights from Libya have been limited to destinations such as Tunisia, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, and Sudan, with the European Union also banning Libyan civil aviation from its airspace. The no-fly zone over Libya was established in 2011 by the United Nations Security Council, following a proposal by the United States on humanitarian grounds during the conflict between rebels and government forces under Gaddafi.
NATO subsequently launched a bombing campaign against the government, with the US and UK navies imposing a blockade on the Libyan coast. Gaddafi was eventually killed by rebels in October 2011, leading to years of armed conflict between rival factions in the country.
Currently, Libya is divided between the internationally recognized Government of National Unity and the forces led by General Khalifa Haftar, who has established his capital in the eastern city of Tobruk.
The resumption of direct flights between Italy and Libya marks a significant step towards normalizing relations and facilitating travel between the two countries. It is hoped that this development will contribute to the stability and economic recovery of Libya while strengthening ties between the nations.
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