Egyptian delegation to inspect Libyan airports ahead of flight resumption: Official

Ahram Online , Tuesday 4 May 2021

Al-Majai said 35 flights per week are set to be launched from the airports of Tripoli’s Mitiga, Misrata, and Benghazi’s Benina to Cairo International Airport

Libya
FILE PHOTO: Planes are seen after the reopening of Mitiga Airport in Tripoli, Libya December 12, 2019. REUTERS

An Egyptian delegation will be making an inspection tour to Libyan airports within days in preparation for the resumption of weekly flights to Cairo, Khalil Al-Majai, chair of the Tripoli-based Afriqiyah Airways, was cited as saying on Tuesday.

Al-Majai said 35 flights per week are set to be launched from the airports of Tripoli’s Mitiga, Misrata, and Benghazi’s Benina to Cairo International Airport, Libyan Afrigate News reported.

Al-Majai said he made a visit to Egypt, accompanying a delegation formed by the Libyan transport minister and included the chair of the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority and director general of the Libyan Airlines.

The delegation held meetings with Egyptian officials, said Al-Majai.

These meetings came in preparation for the resumption of flights from Libyan airports to Cairo and for cooperation in the fields of security and safety, transportation, air navigation, and the training and qualifying of cadres in the aviation sector.

In February, Egypt approved the resumption of flights by Libyan Airlines, which saw a green light for a flight from Benghazi’s Benina International Airport to Alexandria’s Borg Al-Arab airport.

This broke a hiatus that has lasted for more than a year after the Government of National Accord in November 2019 decided to temporarily suspend flights to Egypt, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

As per the decision, Libyan Airlines suspended flights to the four destinations, while the state-owned Afriqiyah Airways continued the flights to Egypt normally.

Egypt also suspended international flights last year in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Last month, Egypt and Libya agreed to resume flights between the two countries’ capitals after a meeting between Interim Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Mohammed Dbeibah and Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly in Tripoli.

Dbeibeh, after his meeting with Madbouly, asked for the resumption of direct flights between the airports of the two countries in order to facilitate the transportation of citizens between the two countries.

Dbeibeh also urged taking steps for the return of Egyptian labourers to Libya.

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