Towards the lifting of ban imposed on Libyan airlines in European space
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - A commission mandated by the Libyan government of national unity held its first meeting to develop an action plan and fast-track procedures to lift the air embargo imposed on Libyan air carriers in European airspace.
The committee, headed by the Minister of State for Communication and Political Affairs, Walid al-Lafi, held on Wednesday a meeting attended by the deputy minister of transport, chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority, acting chairman of the Airports Authority, director of the Department of Entry Posts of the Ministry of Interior and representatives of the Security and Intelligence Services, a government statement said.
According to the same source, the meeting focused on the establishment of a plan and rapid procedures to reopen European airspace, starting with coordination with Italy to resume flights between the two countries and move to the final phase of lifting and allowing Libyan-registered aircraft to cross the airspace and land at European airports.
It should be noted that the decision to ban Libyan airlines from flying over European airspace was taken in 2014, after the European Commission announced a ban on dealing with all transport companies, and preventing its aircraft registered under the code (5A), from flying over the European Union's airspace, landing or taking off at its airports.
The seven Libyan airlines out of the 103 in the world banned from European airspace and blacklisted are Afriqiyah Airways, Air Libya, Buraq Air, Ghadames Air Transport, Global Aviation and Services, Libyan airlines and Petro Air.
However, since the national unity government took office in March, following the successful completion of the political process under the aegis of the UN, Libya has entered a phase of normalization which has allowed the return of embassies and international diplomatic missions, as well as the resumption of certain air links with Tunisia, Egypt and Malta.
-0- PANA BY/JSG/SOC/BBA/RA 2March2023
