Turkish Airlines, the national carrier of Turkey, has resumed its flight services to Libya after a hiatus of a decade, a spokesperson for the airline informed Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Friday.
The inaugural flight connecting Istanbul with Tripoli took off on Thursday, marking a significant moment in the restoration of air travel links between the two countries.
The airline plans to expand its service to include Misrata and Benghazi, offering three flights a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Bilal Eksi, the CEO of Turkish Airlines who was aboard the flight to Mitiga Airport in Tripoli, highlighted the “historical relations” between Turkey and Libya. In a statement, Eksi emphasized the airline’s intention to develop further its relationships within Africa, where it currently serves 62 destinations.
“We believe that tourism and trade will continue to grow in the medium and long term, supported by industrial investment development,” he stated.
Turkish Airlines has emerged as one of the leading airlines globally, reaching 346 destinations in 130 countries.
This expansion comes as Libya, home to Africa’s most abundant oil reserves, struggles to recover from years of conflict following the overthrow and killing of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
Since the fall of Gaddafi’s regime, Libya has experienced ongoing conflicts and divisions, governed by two rival administrations: the UN-recognized government in Tripoli, led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, and a second in the east supported by Marshal Khalifa Haftar.
Turkey has historically supported the Tripoli government, but last month, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced the reopening of the Turkish consulate in Benghazi, signaling a potential shift or broadening of Turkey’s diplomatic engagement in the region.
