Libyan airlines remain blocked from using European airspace.
A Libyan Airlines Airbus A320-214 (Reg: 5A-LAP) arriving in the late evening from Tripoli, Libya. (Photo: Shutterstock)
On Monday, July 29, German Ambassador to Libya, Ralf Tarraf, met with Libya’s Minister of Transport, Mohamed al-Shahoubi, to discuss the potential lifting of the ban on Libyan flights over European airspace and the resumption of flights between Libya and Germany.
The meeting, which took place at the Ministry of Transport in Tripoli, included several officials, such as Undersecretary for Land Transport Affairs Fadel Allah Raf Allah Al-Shalawi, Coordinator of International Relations Ali Essid Al-Qamoudi, and Director of the International Cooperation Office Adel Bakhit.
Minister al-Shahoubi warmly welcomed Ambassador Tarraf, congratulating him on his new position and expressing hopes for fruitful cooperation. In a statement, al-Shahoubi, “called for the activation of the joint cooperation between the two countries and for the return of German companies to work in Libya, as well as to help the Libyan side in lifting the air ban on Libyan aircraft and the return of direct flights between the two countries, several topics of mutual interest were also reviewed for the development of cooperation between the two nations.”
Ambassador Tarraf expressed gratitude for the warm reception and conveyed his eagerness to work in Libya and enhance bilateral relations.
The European Commission has imposed a no-fly zone on Libyan aviation since 2014, preventing Libyan aircraft from flying through European airspace and complicating travel to Europe. In June 2024, the European Commission extended Libya’s flight ban, keeping it on the EU’s aviation blacklist due to ongoing security concerns.
Meanwhile, Libyan Airlines announced on July 25, that it would use European air routes through Greek and Maltese airspace for its flights between Istanbul and Mitiga Airport in Tripoli, reducing flight times by about an hour.
Germany is the second EU nation, after Italy, that Libya has approached for help in lifting the embargo enforced by the European Commission in December 2014. Although Italy did not comply with this request, it did reinstate direct air services with Libya and contributed to the renovation and enhancement of Libyan airports and other infrastructure. Malta and Greece have also reestablished direct air connections with Libya.
Despite the resolution of the conflict in 2020 and improvements in Libya’s aviation infrastructure, Libyan air carriers remain barred from European skies as per the latest update of the EU’s aviation blacklist in May 2024.
Receive a daily dose of the airline industry's top stories along with market insights right in your inbox.
The CEO of Ireland-based global aircraft lessor AerCap said on Monday that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s planned tariffs could hurt…
The South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced plans Monday for safety reforms across the country’s aviation sector…
Delta leaders say corporate policies around diversity, equity, and inclusion, along with sustainability, are “critical” to its business. With many…
