Cairo – Italy and Libya have marked a significant milestone as they resumed commercial flights between the two countries for the first time in a decade. The announcement was made by Libyan airport authorities, stating that Flight MT522, operated by the Libyan carrier Medsky Airways, departed from Tripoli’s Mitiga International Airport and landed at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport.
According to Mitiga International Airport, a return flight was scheduled to arrive in Tripoli later on Saturday. Going forward, there will be one round-trip flight between the Libyan and Italian capitals on both Saturdays and Wednesdays, as per the announcement made by Mitiga airport.
The government of Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah in Tripoli expressed its appreciation for the resumption of flights, sharing photos on social media showing passengers boarding the flight and officials celebrating this positive development.
The ban on flights from Libya was imposed by Italy and other western nations following the chaotic aftermath of the NATO-backed uprising that led to the overthrow and death of longtime dictator Muammar Qaddafi in 2011. The country subsequently descended into disarray, with rival administrations in the east and west, backed by rogue militias and foreign governments.
During this period, direct flights from Libya were limited to select destinations, including neighboring countries like Egypt, Tunisia, and certain Middle Eastern nations such as Jordan.
In July, the government of Premier Giorgia Meloni lifted Italy’s 10-year ban on civil aviation in Libya, paving the way for the resumption of flights between the two countries. Italian and Libyan authorities reached an agreement under which one airline company from each country would operate flights connecting the capitals.
This positive development was further highlighted when Prime Minister Dbeibah returned from a migration conference in Rome on a chartered flight with a commercial airline, demonstrating the growing normalization of air travel between Italy and Libya.
The resumption of commercial flights signifies a step towards rebuilding and strengthening the ties between Italy and Libya. It opens up opportunities for enhanced trade, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges, which can contribute to the overall stability and development of both nations.
As Italy and Libya move forward, it is hoped that this positive momentum will continue, fostering deeper cooperation and engagement between the two countries, and ultimately contributing to the prosperity and well-being of their respective populations.
