Etihad Airways says that it hopes to launch flights from the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi to Tripoli within weeks.

The airline said Monday it wants to begin selling tickets for the new route to the Libyan capital shortly, but did not specify a start date.

Etihad is owned by the government of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The country contributed warplanes to NATO's no-fly zone over Libya and was among the first Arab states to recognize the former rebels as Libya's new government.

Etihad's Dubai-based rival Emirates operated a route to Tripoli before the February uprising in Libya but joined other carriers in halting flights after fighting erupted.

Emirates hasn't announced plans to restart the route.