Скачать или смотреть Times Aerospace: Libya Considers Establishing New National Airline Amid Uncertainty

Times Aerospace reported that Libya is witnessing anticipation regarding the announcement by the Government of National Unity of its intention to establish a new state-owned national airline as part of a broader plan to develop the aviation sector and improve infrastructure.

Although some estimates have pointed to a possible merger between Libyan Airlines and Afriqiyah Airways, sources within Afriqiyah Airways denied this, confirming that "a decision was made to form a technical team, but no one knows the details of the project or its phases," describing the move as "vague and strange."

The website explained that both Libyan Airlines and Afriqiyah Airways fall under the Libyan African Aviation Holding Company, a state-owned entity. The sector suffers from weak funding and a history of losses, raising doubts about the feasibility of establishing a new airline at this time, especially with the European ban on Libyan aviation still in place.

The website pointed out that the government may have floated the idea to gauge the sector’s reaction, noting that reactions ranged from confusion to frustration, given the difficult economic conditions and the lack of a clear roadmap for financing or operations.

Despite these challenges, international airlines have resumed flights to Libya, including Emirates, EgyptAir, Royal Jordanian, and Turkish Airlines, while ITA Airways has also returned recently with special safety measures overseen by the European Aviation Safety Agency, which remains cautious about safety standards.

The Libyan aviation sector includes several airlines, among them six privately owned companies operating small fleets serving a limited number of regional destinations. Questions remain about whether the Tripoli government will reveal further details about the new project amid ongoing political, economic, and security challenges that hinder the development of the aviation sector in the country, according to Times Aerospace.